Maintenance, Operations and Administration Building (MOAB)

Missoula Urban Transportation District (MUTD) is building a new bus maintenance, operations, and administrative building (MOAB). Mountain Line Transit in Missoula, MT, contracted with Wendel to lead the design of a new MOAB to support its growing Battery Electric Bus (BEB) fleet.

The current first phase of the multi-phase project includes a two-story operations and administrative space, a bus maintenance area, indoor bus storage, a service lane, and outdoor paratransit parking. Future phases will allow for additions to add a second service lane, expanded maintenance, enclosed paratransit parking, and enclosed vehicle circulation space.

The administrative and operations space includes both open and closed office spaces, conference rooms, employee wellness spaces, dispatch, and support spaces. The maintenance area consists of four bus repair bays and a dedicated, enclosed electric vehicle bay. Other spaces include a parts room, a receiving area, tool storage, and work areas. The service lane is adjacent to the paratransit storage and will have a bus wash. Indoor bus storage is connected to the service lane. The buses and paratransit vans are electric; charging will take place in the storage areas.

The new facility design is being guided by Wendel’s Core 4 design principles, along with pursuing other sustainability goals such as LEED Gold certification, carbon neutrality, and net-zero readiness. Enhanced indoor environment quality will also be included to protect occupants from the effects of wildfire smoke that commonly gathers in the area. Underneath the building site, a natural aquifer will serve as a heat sink and heat source for the building’s heating and cooling needs, and together with a right-sized solar array, an annual reduction of 363 metric tons of Scope 1 and 2 CO2e is expected. The project also plans to include battery electric bus charging, daylighting strategies, and a future microgrid, among other sustainable initiatives.

The project will use the construction manager at risk (CMAR) delivery method, which has been awarded to Quality Construction. MUTD’s construction budget is $45 million. As of summer 2025, the 60% design phase is nearing completion, with future milestones including construction documents and construction.