Supporting a Zero-Emissions Fleet
Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) serves more than 22,000 students across East San Diego County communities including El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, and Lakeside. To operate at this scale, the District maintains a transportation fleet of 78 buses of varying sizes, transporting students safely and reliably across its service area.
Recognizing the need for a facility that could support current operations while also advancing sustainability goals, GUHSD partnered with HED to design a new transportation maintenance and operations center.
The resulting facility is open, bright, and carefully planned for logical flow. More than a storage site, it serves as the hub for administration, dispatch, and operations leadership, with offices, driver and maintenance training rooms, and parts storage integrated into the design. For the fleet itself, the facility incorporates nine state-of-the-art maintenance bays dedicated to heavy-duty service, inspections, tire repair, and running repairs. Wash bays accommodate both bus bodies and chassis, while dedicated areas provide ample parking for the fleet, delivery trucks, service vehicles, forklifts, and the privately-owned vehicles of drivers and staff.
A defining feature of the facility is its commitment to a zero-emissions future. Designed to house an all-electric bus fleet, the site includes solar-powered charging stations and provisions for additional charging infrastructure as the fleet continues to modernize. Expansion capabilities are built into the plan, ensuring the District can grow its fleet and facilities without interrupting operations.
The design also addresses safety and efficiency in daily logistics. Site and traffic circulation plans allow for the movement of large vehicles while providing ample room for staging and storage. Clearly defined pedestrian walkways support effective management and reinforce the District’s high safety standards.
By integrating administrative, operational, and maintenance functions with sustainable technology, the new facility gives GUHSD the infrastructure it needs to continue serving students and adult learners while positioning itself for a cleaner, more efficient future. It is a forward-looking investment in both the educational mission of the District and the long-term health of the East San Diego County communities it serves.
“This new state of the art facility… is reshaping the future for students and families as a leader in transportation.”
