Current Practices in GHG Emissions Savings from Transit

Transit agencies have a key role to play in reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to climate change. This paper describes the role of transit agencies in reducing GHG emissions and catalogs the current practices of 41 transit agencies. Transit strategies that displace GHG emissions from the transportation sector include those that expand transit service, increase vehicle passenger loads, mitigate congestion, and promote compact development. Strategies that reduce emissions produce by transit agencies include the use of alternative fuels and vehicle types, changing vehicle operations and maintenance practices, changing system construction and maintenance practices, and other strategies that promote energy efficiency or the use of renewable energy. Of these, strategies that increase vehicle passenger loads are the most common among survey respondents. Strategies that explicitly promote compact development are the least common. Many transit agencies surveyed have conducted or are conducting at least a partial analysis of the impacts of their services and operations on GHG emissions. Many strategies that reduce GHG emissions are already common across agencies because they address agencies’ traditional goals. Reducing GHG emissions is often seen as a co-benefit, rather than a goal, of strategies. Still, a number of transit agencies have initiated formal or semi-formal efforts to address GHG emissions.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Gallivan, Frank
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 89th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2010-1-10 to 2010-1-14
• Date: 2010

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: DVD
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 15p
• Monograph Title: TRB 89th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternate fuels; Climate change; Environmental impacts; Exhaust gases; Greenhouse gases; Pollutants; Public transit; Renewable energy sources; Transit operating agencies; Travel surveys; Vehicle operations
• Subject Areas: Environment; Public Transportation; I15: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01154707
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 10-1067
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 14 2010 1:17PM