King County Metro Transit and Sound Transit will purchase at least 12 new transit buses powered by hybrid-electric technology thanks to a $2.2 million grant just announced by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

The federal Clean Fuels grant will allow Metro and ST to purchase hybrid buses instead of conventional diesel buses. The funding will cover the incremental cost difference between the two types of coaches.

Metro will receive $1.6 million for the purchase of nine 40-foot hybrid buses, and ST will receive $533,000 to purchase three 60-foot hybrids.

The new hybrid buses will bring the total number of hybrids operated by the two transit agencies to 271.