sustainability 2018 report INTRO BUILDINGS ENVIRONMENT COMMUNITY CLIMATE VISION FORWARD APPENDIX
MARTA’s Contribution to Sustainability
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) provides essential transportation services for the Atlanta million Metropolitan Region, home to over 4.4 4.4 1 people in Atlanta Metro Area million people. MARTA provides bus and rail service to more than 500,000 passengers on a daily basis2, including services to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the world.3 500,000 In addition, MARTA provides specialized bus & rail paratransit van services to residents needing assistance. MARTA’s role in passengers daily Metropolitan Atlanta is uniquely ours, service to providing a comprehensive and wide- reaching transit option that connects people to employment, entertainment, and recreation.
As a result of a growing Atlanta area population, and exciting expansion opportunities into more counties and airport specialized new routes, increased ridership is projected to continue into future years. With increased routes and increased ridership, our role in the Atlanta region’s discussions about transportation, paratransit connectivity and environment will only grow in years to come.
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At MARTA, we have enjoyed the challenge and opportunity to define what sustainability means internally, and to increase how we contribute to the broader sustainability of the Atlanta Metropolitan Region. Sustainability is As a public transit agency whose Our recent Carbon Footprint Update part of both our objectives and daily operations, as well as a goal in and mission is to provide safe and reliable for 2016 found that MARTA’s provision of itself. alternative forms of transportation, we of alternative transportation (alternative are as proud of our contributions to options to using single occupancy Our internal initiatives are viewed in terms of our attempts to realize the sustainability in the Atlanta Metropolitan passenger vehicles) to the Atlanta Triple Bottom Line: Region as we are of our own internal population prevents 638,624 metric sustainability accomplishments. As a tons of carbon dioxide equivalent4 from result of operating our buses and trains, being released into the atmosphere MARTA helps eliminate passenger due to mobility mode shift, congestion vehicles from our roadways daily. By relief, and changing land use. 1 2 3 reducing vehicle miles travelled, MARTA Achieving Having a net- Improving the is actively improving the region’s air cost-savings positive impact on communities in quality, which has improved substantially the environment which we operate, over the last decade. MARTA currently work, and live helps to alleviate heavy traffic issues that lengthen commutes and contribute to air pollution.
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MARTA’s commitment to sustainability was originally made several years ago, though our story has only just begun.
October 27 2008 2009
The MARTA Became a founding Board approved a policy on of the American Public Transportation signatory Association’s (APTA) Sustainability Commitment. The APTA initiative provided additional guidance and a solid framework for sustainability MARTA’s sustainability program. MARTA initially completed the signatory level which formally established our sustainability program. of APTA’s program by passing a Board action on sustainability, identifying a sustainability champion within the organization, establishing an outreach MARTA committed to respecting our environment and to program on sustainability for all staff, and undertaking a sustainability inventory reducing our dependence on non-renewable energy and by establishing baseline measurements of greenhouse gas emissions (2008) resources. At that time, the sustainability vision included and resource consumption Authority-wide (2012). several key points: • Establish MARTA’s environmental baseline and develop a comprehensive sustainability master plan • Reduce MARTA’s environmental footprint • Increase MARTA’s use of green products and services 2011 • Increase the volume of recycled materials MARTA introduced • Increase savings and Return on Investment (ROI) renewables into the through greening strategies agency’s energy portfolio 2012 with the installation of MARTA begins the
solar panels baseline year at the Laredo Bus Facility. for the majority of the sustainability data that MARTA monitors.
3 INTRO BUILDINGS ENVIRONMENT COMMUNITY CLIMATE VISION FORWARD APPENDIX 2015 MARTA’s commitment and efforts to date were acknowledged with the award of bronze level 2016 recognition by APTA.5 Below are some high level data points showing the progress 2018 we have made MARTA is now proud in reducing our impacts to have attained the on the environment. level of N silver recognition in March 2018 for our sustainability efforts. I ION (CO2e per PMT) -10% In our most recent application we highlighted a number of the programs in this report including our LEED T R (gallons per PMT) -27% (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver buildings, energy efficiency upgrades, wash water T recycling, and transit-oriented development efforts. (lbs. per PMT) -13% This recent accomplishment was announced publicly All metrics are normalized by our ridership metric (passenger by APTA at their July 2018 Sustainability & Multimodal miles traveled or PMT); this makes our values more comparable Planning Workshop. to other transit agencies and accounts for our increasing service levels. Initiatives enacted to achieve these reductions are further described later in the report.
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MARTA has thrived in the self-imposed This Report is constructed of four main Of course, we recognize that the ambition of expanding our sustainability sections, each of which tells a chapter comprehensive implementation of program to include challenging of our story of sustainability: all these initiatives is ongoing. As MARTA continues to take initiatives to address our internal we continue to learn, improve, and and external operations. Historically, progress, MARTA will find further its role seriously, both we have not been as proactive at ways to integrate sustainability in Atlanta Metropolitan telling the story of sustainability at into our operations, as well as Region’s sustainability MARTA; this report aims to address Buildings Community new opportunities to contribute efforts and as an industry that. We are excited to highlight the to the sustainability of the leader in sustainability. accomplishments of our sustainability Atlanta Metropolitan Region. Our We believe that this report program since its inception. Sustainability Report, therefore, shares both sides of our concludes with our Vision Forward sustainability story. Environment Climate and what next steps we foresee for MARTA’s sustainability program.
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buildings building a more sustainable MARTA INTRO BUILDINGS ENVIRONMENT COMMUNITY CLIMATE VISION FORWARD APPENDIX
MARTA is comprised of two main office buildings, 38 rail stations, five bus and three rail maintenance facilities, and other small facilities critical to our day-to-day operations and mission of providing transit to the Atlanta Metropolitan Region. In short, with over six million square feet, we are a significant property manager. As such, we recognized early on that our sustainability program would need to integrate with our building management and operations.
From large one-time initiatives to changing the culture of how we operate facilities, MARTA has made major strides at increasing the sustainability of our built environment.
MARTA’s approach to our buildings has three components:
Improve efficiency within existing buildings and infrastructure
Consider green design standards and best practices in new design
Incorporate renewable energy when and where feasible
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efficiency upgrades motion-detecting light switches lights: Efficiency Upgrades longer life span, low energy consumption, With an inventory of buildings of MARTA implemented a major program MARTA is also using more LED lights better quality light varying ages, ranging from the 1970s designed to replace standard light due to the longer life span, low to 2016, much of our infrastructure switches with motion-detecting sensor energy consumption, and was constructed during times when light switches in multipurpose rooms, better quality of light design and technology had not reached such as conference, break, copy, and output. The brighter light quality the efficiency levels or standards that other similar rooms that have moderate makes them better candidates we currently have available today. to infrequent use. The sensors turn off for overall security camera Therefore, MARTA has begun making the lights when the room is not in use, resolution, and their long the necessary adjustments and thus reducing energy use and saving lifespan reduces long- upgrades to improve efficiency in many dollars. These light switches will be term maintenance and of our existing buildings. implemented Authority-wide over the replacement cost. Currently, MARTA coming years. The ROI of this project has LED installations in all tunnels and is less than three months from the start many stations. of implementation. Talk about flipping a switch!
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LEED Certification Success Stories
Green Design Standards On Atlanta’s west side sits MARTA’s Brady Paratransit Facility, home to MARTA’s fleet of over 180 Paratransit buses. The Brady When resources allow, MARTA is Facility was completely rebuilt and reopened in 2016. Soon after strategically renovating existing facilities construction, the Brady Facility achieved LEED Silver Certification. and building new ones to meet the The construction utilizes green practices such as the use of growing demands of being maintenance equipment designed for low water consumption, a world-class regional transit provider. recycled and low-emitting building materials, and the use of green These renovations give us a great cleaning systems and supplies. opportunity to consider and incorporate best practices and green design The Pedestrian Bridge at Buckhead Rail Station’s North Entrance standards within our infrastructure. provides riders with easier access to one of MARTA’s major stations MARTA has applied Leadership in in one of Atlanta’s most popular economic and commercial centers Energy and Environmental Design along the Red Line. The project used best practices to achieve energy (LEED) standards in the design of new efficiency by maximizing daylighting and using LED light fixtures. Also, facilities, and implements similar the materials used in the construction emphasized conservation and sustainable design principles in the repurposed materials with a high percentage of recycled content. renovation of existing facilities. LEED is used as a standard to promote green buildings that are environmentally MARTA’s commitment to incorporating responsible and resource-efficient green design considerations is also throughout each building’s life cycle: on display at the newly completed from siting to design, construction, Integrated Operations Center (IOC), operation, maintenance, renovation, which will soon house the operational and deconstruction. functions of MARTA’s bus, rail, and paratransit departments. It also serves as an emergency operations center for MARTA’s Police department. strategically The IOC used sustainable design considerations, such as LED lighting, high efficiency heating, ventilation, and renovating air conditioning (HVAC) and low volatile existing facilities and organic compound (VOC) materials.
buildingnew ones
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Renewable Energy
MARTA is always looking for opportunities for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction to push the envelope on sustainability; if we (TIGGER) grant from the Federal Transit can partner with local and federal agencies Administration (FTA). The $10.8 million grant to reach new heights, all the better. In provided full funding for an array of 4,903 2009, MARTA successfully secured that energy-efficient solar panels at MARTA’s Laredo year’s largest federal Transit Investments Bus Facility, which were installed in 2011.
energy savings in first annual savings on year of operation: electrical bills: 4,545m $100k British Thermal Units based on the electricity (MMBtu), an amount of we use from the panels and energy that could power that which we sell back 118 homes for an entire year to our electric utility
The project also significantly cuts our annual fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at Laredo, enhances our work environment, and has created additional jobs in the Atlanta metropolitan region (during construction phase).
In addition to generating clean, renewable energy, the steel structure provides shade for approximately 220 buses with a perforated canopy and LED lights to accommodate the 24/7 operations of the facility. The shade helps reduce the amount of air conditioning needed to cool the buses as they start up during the hot Atlanta summer months.
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As the 9th largest transit agency by ridership in the nation6, we are proud of our size and our ability to cover such a large geographic area. But that does not mean we need to have a large environmental footprint. In fact, MARTA has many ongoing initiatives to reduce our waste, limit our GHG emissions, and be more efficient with our water usage. MARTA is addressing environmental stewardship at all levels:
Providing our employees with informational materials and training to better recycle and reduce our waste
Implementing Authority-wide initiatives to eliminate single- use plastic water bottles
Improving each facility’s overall environmental management program
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Environmental Management System MARTA is one of the first An Environmental Management System independently certified to the ISO (EMS) is a set of management policies, 14001:2004 Standard in March 2014.7 public transit agencies processes, and procedures that allow The EMS was then expanded to the to be an ISO 14001:2015 registered an organization to assess, control, and Laredo Bus Maintenance Facility and reduce the environmental impact of its the Headquarters Print Shop, which multisite organization activities, products, and services. An were both certified to ISO 14001:2015, EMS helps an organization address its along with a re-certification for Armour regulatory demands in a systematic Yard to the new standard in 2017. and cost-effective manner. This is part Following these successes, MARTA’s As of late 2017, MARTA is officially commitment to its community, of MARTA’s proactive approach to EMS grew to add South Yard Rail an ISO 14001:2015 certified multi-site customers, and employees with an reduce the risk of noncompliance and Maintenance Facility and Brady organization. With this certification, environmentally responsible and improve environmental practices that Mobility Maintenance Facility. These MARTA is one of the first among peer sustainable business model. MARTA benefit both employees and the public. facilities are now in the process of transit agencies to have implemented accomplishes this commitment being certified to ISO 14001:2015. a 14001:2015 multi-site management through our management system MARTA implemented an EMS in MARTA is currently planning to expand system towards achieving high levels framework that drives continual 2011 for our Armour Yard Rail Car the scope of the EMS to Perry Bus of environmental performance. This improvement in operating efficiency Maintenance Facility, which was Maintenance and the IOC. certification exemplifies MARTA’s and environmental performance.
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Waste Reduction and Recycling
From what started organically in Through various separate vendors a single building in 2010, MARTA’s MARTA also recycles scrap metal, paper, Recycling Program has grown into used oil, bus and railcar glass windows, a full-blown Authority-wide initiative batteries, tires, electronic waste, and encompassing multiple waste streams ink cartridges. Some of these data are in our offices and at our facilities. presented in the figures below.
MARTA uses a single-stream recycling process in which recyclables— T T R M including paper, cardboard, plastic, M RT and aluminum—are placed in a single bin and then separated at recycling W facilities. MARTA’s single-stream recyclables tonnage is based on R standard estimation8 from our waste vendors; however, we continue to become more accurate in our accounting of our waste streams and how much waste is being diverted from landfills.
T R M RT