VP Kamala Harris in Seattle to speak about EPA offering grants for electric school buses

SEATTLE - Vice President Kamala Harris is in Seattle this week and she is scheduled to talk about the administration's investments in clean school buses, according to a release by her office.

Harris is scheduled to be in Seattle on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is urging travelers to expect traffic and delays.

Harris is in Seattle for an event where, she'll be joined by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan.

Nearly 400 school districts spanning all 50 states and Washington, D.C., along with several tribes and U.S. territories, are receiving roughly $1 billion in grants to purchase about 2,500 "clean" school buses under a new federal program.

Traffic impacts of VP Kamala Harris' Seattle visit

Vice President Kamala Harris is in Seattle and officials are warning drivers about the travel impacts.

The Biden administration is making the grants available as part of a wider effort to accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles and reduce air pollution near schools and communities.

Harris and Regan are set to announce the grant awards Wednesday in Seattle. The new, mostly electric school buses will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money and better protect children’s health, the White House said.

Also during her visit, she will be speaking at a finance event. The White House hasn't released details about the location or times of the events.

Her last visit in Seattle was during her presidential campaign in September 2019.

SDOT: PLAN AHEAD FOR TRAFFIC

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) says the Vice President's Seattle visit will have a major impact on travel throughout the Puget Sound.

During a visit like this, the U.S. Secret Service has priority over the roadways, which may require intermittent freeway and street closures throughout the region.

While the Vice President's routes will not be publicly announced, SDOT is asking travelers to give themselves plenty of time to reach their destination, and anticipate significant traffic delays.

To view our live traffic map, click here.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.