FTA awards 10 transit agencies across the U.S. for carbon reduction efforts

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has recognised the exemplary efforts of 10 public transit agencies across the U.S. to combat climate change through its Sustainable Transit for a Healthy Planet initiative, including the first transit agency to meet its goal for a 100 per cent electric fleet.

FTA presented the awards on 22 April 2022, the 52nd celebration of Earth Day, in co-ordination with other efforts undertaken across USDOT to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transportation sector, which is the number one source of emissions in the U.S. economy. Transit, and especially low- and no-emission transit, is key to quickly increasing efforts to address climate change.

“By helping people to efficiently and affordably get where they need to go, public transit plays a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said USDOT Secretary, Pete Buttigieg. “We’re delighted to honour these 10 public transit agencies leading the charge to protect our communities against climate change.”

Created in June 2021 to help advance President Biden’s ambitious GHG reduction goals, FTA’s Climate Challenge calls on transit agencies to develop strategies to reduce emissions, such as converting fleets to electric buses, making facilities more energy efficient and generating power through renewable energy sources.

Although the transportation sector is the leading emitter of GHGs in the U.S. each year, the transit industry has long been at the forefront in reducing emissions. A total of 171 transit agencies from Maine to Hawaii signed on to participate in the FTA Climate Challenge. Throughout the year, FTA helped participants to advance their goals with technical resources, targeted listening sessions and peer exchanges.

“Transit agencies across the country are greening their fleets, hardening critical infrastructure and transitioning their workforces to reduce the disproportionate impacts of a warming climate on their communities,” said FTA Administrator, Nuria Fernandez. “Through the Climate Challenge, FTA is working to make transit even greener.”

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Awardees, chosen across eight categories, include:

• Most Accomplished: Antelope Valley Transit Authority in Lancaster, California, met its 100 per cent electric fleet goal – making it the first agency to achieve this feat in North America
• Most Ambitious: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority set a goal that exceeded President Biden’s goals of a 50 per cent reduction in GHG emissions
• Most Collaborative: Iowa City Transit successfully leveraged state, local and private partnerships to advance its climate action strategies
• Most Equitable: King County Metro in Seattle, Washington, developed a plan focused on addressing climate change impacts and transportation access in underserved communities
• Most Innovative: Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit in Urbana, Illinois, demonstrated the use of creative solutions to implement its climate action strategy
• Most Transformative:Sound Transit in Seattle, Washington, developed a plan demonstrating sustainability throughout the agency, including fleets, facilities and operations
• First to the Finish: Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County in Houston, Texas, was the first to submit its new climate action plan, delivered on 4 February 2022
• Champions of the Challenge: This award was bestowed on small, medium and large transit agencies that developed plans that include achievable, ambitious strategies for reaching their GHG emission reduction goals. The agencies awarded include the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Austin, Texas (large); Central Ohio Transit Authority in Columbus, Ohio (medium); and Rockford Mass Transit District in Rockford, Illinois (small).

FTA has also launched phase two of the Climate Challenge, which seeks to increase participation and focuses on electrification or zero-emission transition plans to achieve the President’s GHG emissions goals.