APTA: Public Transportation Use Reduces Greenhouse Gases

October 8, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

It takes one solo commuter of a household to switch his daily driving to public transportation and he can reduce his household carbon footprint by 10%.

If one household's driver gives up that second car and switches to public transit, a household can reduce its carbon emissions up to 30%, the study found.

"Encouraging use and expanding public transportation should be a part of our national strategy to address global climate change," said Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-Minn., House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman.

"Congress has yet to have a serious, comprehensive debate about how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change," said Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., subcommittee chairman, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. "As the APTA report shows, however, increasing use of public transportation will be central to the discussion about how to reduce emissions from the transportation sector."

According to the APTA study, 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 freezer with a highly efficient one saves 335 pounds of CO2 per year. Taking public transportation saves more than 14 times the carbon.

The research pointed out that due to increases in vehicle miles traveled, the problem of pollution from vehicle emissions is accelerating. Greenhouse gas emissions from mobile sources grew 27% from 1990 to 2004. Autos and light-duty trucks represent about 61% of the total mobile source of greenhouse gas emissions.

The report said 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.

"While it is good public policy to require more fuel efficient automobiles, increasing the use of transit can have a more immediate impact on our nation's transportation fuel consumption," said William W. Millar, APTA president.

"It could take 20 to 30 years to see a complete turnover of the vehicle fleet. A household does not need to go to the expense of buying a new vehicle to make a difference; they can simply take advantage of the nation's existing bus or rail services to dramatically reduce their carbon footprint."

APTA called on Congress to incorporate public transportation into a national climate strategy that includes providing:

• Additional funding levels for more public transportation investment.
• Tax credits to major employers who spend resources to support mass transit ridership programs.
• Tax credits to developers for mixed development residential, commercial and transportation sites that encourage greater use of public transportation.

Source: American Public Transportation Association (APTA).