Metro News Release
For immediate release: September 26, 2007
New study finds public transportation use can substantially reduce greenhouse gases
If you really want to combat global climate change, take Metro. A new study released today by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) finds that taking public transportation can be more than 10 times greater in reducing carbon dioxide than other household actions that limit the harmful greenhouse gas.
The study, Public Transportation’s Contribution to U.S. Greenhouse Gas Reduction, finds if one member of a household completely switches from driving to using public transportation, he or she can reduce their household carbon footprint by up to 30 percent. Commuting to work by bus or train reduces emissions by 10 percent.
“Metro buses and trains take 580,000 cars off the road each weekday and eliminate more than 10,000 tons of pollutants from the air each year,” said Metro General Manager John Catoe. “Everyone can do their part to help further reduce harmful greenhouse gases by taking Metro.”
An individual switching to public transit can reduce his or her daily carbon emissions by 20 pounds; that’s more than 4,800 pounds in a year. This is far greater than the many actions people are being encouraged to take, for instance:
- Home weatherizing and adjusting the thermostat for heating and cooling saves 2,847 pounds of carbon per year. Transit use saves almost twice the carbon.
- Replacing five incandescent bulbs to lower wattage compact fluorescent lamps saves 445 pounds of CO2 per year. Transit use saves more than 10 times the CO2.
- Replacing an older refrigerator .
The research states that due to increases in vehicle miles traveled, the problem of pollution from vehicle emissions is accelerating. Greenhouse gas emissions from mobile sources have grown 27 percent from 1990 to 2004. Autos and light duty trucks represent about 61 percent of the total mobile source of greenhouse gas emissions. The report, prepared by Science Applications International Corporation, says single occupancy drivers switching their work commute to public transportation is one of the more effective ways to reduce the nation’s vehicle miles traveled while reducing harmful carbon dioxide.
Metro eliminates the need for 1,400 highway miles. The transit agency also has purchased eco-friendly buses that run on ultra low sulfur diesel fuel, compressed natural gas, diesel hybrid and advanced technology fuels.
The American Public Transportation Association is calling on Congress to incorporate public transportation into a national climate strategy and the report recommended key elements. It includes providing additional funding levels for more public transportation investment; providing tax credits to major employers who spend resources to support mass transit ridership programs; and tax credits to developers for mixed development residential, commercial and transportation sites that encourage greater use of public transportation.
News release issued at 12:00 am, September 26, 2007.