1 Transit and Climate Change April 10, 2008 Deborah Lipman Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Why is Transportation Part of the Debate? 2

3 Greenhouse Gas Reductions & Savings A single person using transit reduces CO 2 by 10%; eliminating one car can save 30% in emissions Average annual household savings = $6,251

The Effect of Household Action 4

Steady Increase in Transit Use (1995 – 2006) 10.3 Billion Trips in 2007

The Challenge of VMT Growth 6

Total Effect of Public Transportation Availability Reduction in CO 2 emissions - 37 million metric tonnes annually VMT Reduced per Year as a Result of Public Transportation billion VMT Gallons Reduced per Year as a Result of Public Transportation billion 7

Value of Transit in a Climate Change Strategy Potential for immediate household action Supports efficient land use patterns & general reduction in travel demand – potential to reduce the growth in VMT Reduces congestion and improves fuel economy Preserves mobility in a climate of rising fuel prices 8

What Actions Can We Take? Promote and expand public transportation service coverage and frequency Protect our existing public transportation assets and service Recognize transit’s net benefit within any cap & trade or offset program Recognize that with higher energy costs, transit’s operating costs will increase Consider climate change in transportation planning and prioritization 9

Metro Reduces CO2 Everyday Average weekday WMATA ridership is nearly 1.2 million passenger trips –Over 750,000 Metrorail passenger trips using 830 zero emission electric powered rail cars –470,000 Metrobus passenger trips WMATA takes 500,000 cars off the road each weekday Without WMATA, Washington D.C. would need an additional 150,000 parking spaces and the region would require an additional 1,400 highway lane miles

What Local Governments Can Do to Support Transit Transit Supportive Road Design –Bus only lanes –Signal prioritization –Sidewalks and bus stop access and improvements Transit Supportive Land-Use –Coordinate decisionmaking –Mixed uses in transit corridors and nodes –TOD policies

Metro’s Initiatives Alternatively fueled buses (CNG) and Hybrids Transit Oriented Development Carsharing Bike/pedestrian programs Solar Power Energy Audit and Conservation Measures 12