Link Transit unveils new Bus Barn with public open house in June

WENATCHEE — Link Transit will open the doors to its new “Bus Barn” facility next month, inviting the public to tour the agency’s expanding electric bus operations while also celebrating the retirement of longtime CEO Nick Covey after more than three decades with the organization.

The community open house is scheduled for June 25 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the new facility, located at 2700 Euclid Ave., just north of Wenatchee Confluence State Park in Olds Station.

The new Bus Barn serves as the operational hub for Link Transit’s growing electric fleet, housing charging infrastructure, maintenance operations and dispatch services for buses traveling throughout Chelan and Douglas counties. The facility was designed to support Link Transit’s transition toward a larger zero-emission fleet as the agency continues modernizing its operations and expanding regional service capacity.

Guests attending the open house will be able to take guided tours of the maintenance shop and Bus Barn, view electric buses and charging equipment, and meet Link Transit staff. The event will also include family-friendly activities and appetizers provided by Ring-A-Bell Catering.

Transit riders and community members will have an opportunity to see areas of the operation that are normally closed to the public, including the spaces where buses are serviced, cleaned, charged and prepared for daily routes across the region.

“This facility represents the future of public transportation in our region,” Jennifer Dolge, Link Transit’s marketing manager, said in a release announcing the event. “We’re excited to open our doors to the community and showcase the technology, infrastructure, and people behind Link Transit and its electric fleet.”

The open house will also serve as a public retirement celebration for outgoing CEO Nick Covey, honoring his 32 years of service with Link Transit and the wider community. Covey announced earlier this year that he would step away from the agency after helping oversee a period of major growth and system modernization.

Visitors participating in facility tours are required to wear closed-toe shoes.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media