NJ TRANSIT CELEBRATES EARTH WEEK WITH RELEASE OF FIRST EVER SUSTAINABILITY PLAN
Agency’s Plan Outlines Efforts to Protect the Environment While Providing Equitable and Sustainable Transportation to Customers
April 23, 2024
NEWARK, NJ – In celebration of Earth Week, NJ TRANSIT has released its first ever Sustainability Plan. The plan details the steps and processes NJ TRANSIT is progressing to deliver sustainable, resilient, and equitable public transportation. In accordance with NJ TRANSIT’s 10-Year Strategic Plan, “NJT2030”, the Sustainability Plan prioritizes environmental responsibility while also highlighting deliverable benefits to customers in the communities it serves. Additionally, from April 23–28, the first 5,000 new customers to the NJ TRANSIT Mobile App are eligible to receive one free round-trip ticket through the Mobile App using the promo code “EARTH24”.
"What better way to celebrate Earth Week than by unveiling NJ TRANSIT’s first ever Sustainability Plan, which serves as a blueprint for integrating sustainability into all aspects of our operations,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. "This demonstrates that transit is clearly the best way to reduce New Jersey’s carbon footprint today and will be even more so in the future.”
The Sustainability Plan includes themes on energy, air quality, resilience, waste, and water. It is a living document that will be revised and updated periodically, to provide transparency and direction for NJ TRANSIT to become a leader in sustainability. The plan also supports NJ TRANSIT’s commitment to a clean energy future through:
- Advancing sustainable practices, environmental stewardship, and resiliency
- Modernizing and expanding the transit network through capital investments
- Increasing efficiency through operational strategies
- Linking projects and programs that encompass sustainability, and
- Establishing agency goals, strategies, and actions
To view the Sustainability Plan, visit njtransit.com/sustainabilityplan.
In recognition of Earth Week, NJ TRANSIT continues to advance initiatives already underway to promote sustainability.
Zero Emissions Bus Program
In October 2022, NJ TRANSIT unveiled its first of eight battery-electric buses at its Camden bus garage setting the stage for the goal of transitioning to a 100% zero-emission bus fleet by 2040 in line with Governor Murphy’s Energy Master Plan.
The Camden project is the first of its kind for NJ TRANSIT. This deployment of eight buses is an opportunity for NJ TRANSIT to introduce zero-emissions vehicles into the community while collecting valuable data and information on the effects of weather, passenger volume, road conditions and other factors on battery-electric bus performance, such as travel distance between recharging.
NJ TRANSIT’s Zero Emission Timeline
In January 2020, Governor Murphy signed legislation establishing goals to increase the use of zero-emission vehicles in New Jersey, prioritized for low-income, urban and environmental justice communities.
- By December 31, 2024: At least 10 percent of new bus purchases will be zero-emission buses.
- By December 31, 2026: At least 50 percent of new bus purchases will be zero-emission buses.
- By December 31, 2032: 100 percent of new bus purchases will be zero-emission buses.
Environmental Benefits of Riding NJ TRANSIT
According to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory report from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), it is estimated that New Jersey’s transportation sector (including personal vehicles and trucks) accounts for 37.3 million metric tons CO2 equivalent (MMTCO2e), which is 35 percent of the gross GHG emissions statewide. Most transportation emissions come from personal vehicles. A single occupied vehicle emits 0.88 pounds of CO2 per passenger-mile. The estimated reduction in an individual’s carbon footprint by shifting from driving to NJ TRANSIT would be up to 47 percent if shifting to bus, up to 63 percent if shifting to light-rail, and up to 69 percent if shifting to commuter rail.
NJ TRANSIT services offset personal vehicle use by more than 1.5 billion miles and displaces over 3.9 metric tons of CO2e each year. Every trip on mass transit rather than a personal vehicle reduces emissions!
In addition to transportation efficiency, there are congestion relief and land-use benefits of transit on GHG emissions. Public transportation promotes compact development; businesses, retail space, schools, and living areas that are constructed in proximity to one another. Land use that prioritizes public transportation, including Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), promotes walking, cycling and reduces car use due to the close distance of traveled areas and access to transportation options. Compact development tends to emerge near transportation systems - bus depots, rail terminals, and light rail stations. For instance, NJ TRANSIT’s Hudson-Bergen Light Rail serves the high-density areas of Jersey City and Hoboken and connects people from across the region to ferries, trains and buses. Fewer cars on the road also results in reduced rates of car crashes and injuries, reduced congestion, cleaner air, and a smaller carbon footprint for New Jersey.
About NJ TRANSIT
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 263 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.