Sustainability
Zero-Emission Buses SUSTAINABILITY PLAN
ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY POLICY COMMITTEE MATERIALS
NJ TRANSIT’s Role in Sustainability
Every mile a person travels on mass transportation instead of sitting in traffic plays an important role in a better future for our planet. The estimated change in an individual’s carbon footprint by shifting from driving to NJ TRANSIT would be a 47 percent reduction if shifting to bus, a 63 percent reduction if shifting to light-rail, and a 69 percent reduction if shifting to commuter rail. Use of personal transportation for commuting and other travel accounts for almost half of the carbon emissions of a typical American family. Traditional assumptions are that continued prosperity is driven by continued growth, which often leads to increased traffic and increased emissions. Our continued dedication to investing in a stronger transit system means that the people of New Jersey can personally help decouple the link between economic growth and increasing carbon emissions through the use of high quality, comfortable, and reliable public transit for all.
NJ TRANSIT provides nearly 270 million passenger trips each year. By providing these passengers with an alternative to driving cars, NJ TRANSIT reduces automobile vehicle miles traveled in New Jersey by 1.5 billion every year and is one of the single greatest mitigators of auto congestion on New Jersey roadways. Additionally, per the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Report 176, further greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions from public transportation are attributed to land use benefits. Public transportation promotes compact developments; businesses, retail space, schools, and living areas are constructed within proximity. Compact land use leads to shorter trips, more walking and cycling, thus less driving.
| NJ TRANSIT reduces automobile vehicle miles in New Jersey by approximately 1.5 billion every year. |
New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan
In response to the growing and evolving threat of climate change, New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan (EMP) sets forth a strategic vision for the production, distribution, consumption, and conservation of energy in the State of New Jersey. The EMP’s energy strategies includes “Reducing Energy Consumption and Emissions from the Transportation Sector” and “Supporting Community Energy Planning and Action in Underserved Communities”. NJ TRANSIT is a sustainable transportation provider and a key component in supporting inclusive and sustainable growth. NJ TRANSIT can play a key role in achieving the goals of the EMP while acting as an engine of economic prosperity.
| Over 3.9 million metric tons of CO2e are displaced by NJ TRANSIT every year. |
NJ TRANSIT’s Strategic Direction
NJ TRANSIT is committed to proactively improving the efficiency and resiliency of its operations and infrastructure so that the agency can be a leader in sustainable and resilient transportation throughout the state. NJ TRANSIT’s 10-Year Strategic Plan reaffirms the commitment to sustainability by calling for the agency to “Promote a more sustainable future for our planet”. This goal further supports the EMP’s ambitious efforts to reduce energy consumption and emissions from the transportation sector.
Additionally, NJ TRANSIT will produce a Sustainability Plan by 2023. Our first Sustainability Plan will be a guiding document to drive our corporate culture towards a more sustainable future and establish the framework for NJ TRANSIT to be a leader in sustainable public transportation. Our approach to the Sustainability Plan can be read here and recording of our presentation to the NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors can be found here.
NJ TRANSIT’s Organization
NJ TRANSIT employees are dedicated to achieving the State’s goals to combat climate change, improve the sustainability of the transportation sector, and to support inclusive and sustainable growth throughout the state. NJ TRANSIT as an organization includes individuals who are dedicated towards achieving these sustainability goals.
Environment, Energy and Sustainability
The key team that is responsible for coordinating the Agency’s efforts in the fight against climate change is The Energy and Sustainability Team. The Energy and Sustainability team’s mission is to advance sustainable practices, environmental stewardship, and resiliency for NJ TRANSIT stakeholders through leadership, research, technological innovation, and education.
Enterprise Asset Management and Resiliency
Our Enterprise Asset Management and Resiliency team manages the massive portfolio of assets NJ TRANSIT owns and is critical in including within its asset management practices the implementation of sustainability and climate change adaptation improvements. Many of the critical resiliency projects driven by this team after Superstorm Sandy have focused on ensuring NJ TRANSIT’s power infrastructure inventory was hardened and prepare for future extreme climate events.
Capital Planning
Our Capital Planning team is responsible for the agency’s Five-Year Capital Plan. The team plans, develops, prioritizes, and coordinates the implementation of all major capital investments. Critical to capital planning and the activities of the team is the incorporation of sustainability practices, and climate change adaptation in the planning and development of new projects to ensure the capital plan embraces the aspirational goals of sustainability laid out in the agency’s strategic plan.
Programs, Projects & Publications: More Coming Soon!
Through programs and efforts, internally and with external partners and stakeholders, we are striving to increase the efficiency and resiliency of our fleet and infrastructure. By moving people from personal vehicles to public transportation and implementing innovation solutions, we can reduce our emissions, our carbon footprint and improve air quality to help combat climate change to protect and preserve the needs of future generations.
Learn More: Zero-Emission Buses Learn More: Sustainability Plan
Learn More: Transit Friendly Planning Learn More: Resiliency Program
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