Goal 1: Greenhouse Gas (GHG) & Criteria Air Pollutants

SEPTA produces GHG emissions from the daily combustion of carbon-based fuels and purchase of fossil fuel-based electricity. But as a provider of mass transit, SEPTA also displaces emissions by taking cars off the road and supporting compact land use patterns. The net result of SEPTA's GHG impact is a reduction in emissions by a factor of three - for every unit of greenhouse gas that SEPTA emits, three units are displaced throughout the region. SEPTA's GHG performance is hindered in part by heavy use of electricity for propulsion, for which GHG emissions are high compared to those of peer transit agencies due to the carbon-intensive fuel mix of local electricity generation. While generation continues to become cleaner, SEPTA can grow its position as a net emissions displacer by reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions along three metrics: GHG emissions per vehicle mile (VM), per revenue vehicle hour (RVH), and per passenger mile traveled (PMT).

Key Performance Indicator:

  • Goal: 5% annual improvement (Reduction in lbs CO2-e per VM, RVM, PMT; increase in GHG Benefit Multiplier)
  • Baseline Year: 2009

PERFORMANCE METRICS
  GHG Emissions (lbs CO2-e) GHG Benefit
Year (CY) Total Per VM Per RVM Per PMT

Multiplier
2006 978,299,634 10.563 147.936 0.683 2.67
2007 977,579,622 10.346 145.078 0.654 2.79
2008 982,910,309 10.199 142.561 0.633 2.88
2009 989,940,544 10.110 142.079 0.642 2.89
2010 993,182,372 10.100 142.230 0.619 2.95

Initiatives:

  • Develop climate action plan (CAP)
  • Continue efforts to improve air quality performance
  • Pursue alternative energy vehicle procurement
  • Install low-NOx boilers
  • Complete a vulnerability and risk assessment
  • Invest in renewable energy

From The Journal:

Other Resources:

Goal 2: Water Use & Pollutant Discharge

SEPTA's current water use is metered at over 300 separate locations, providing a useful-but incomplete-picture of water consumption throughout the system. Between 2006 and 2009, consumption costs at these stations, shops, garages, and administrative locations increased by an average of 6.7 percent per year to the current cost of $1.9 million. But the nature of water bills is changing, transitioning from a simple cost of consumption to a more comprehensive model that accounts for a property's stormwater runoff. This new price structure gives SEPTA two areas for improvement: reducing its water consumption and its impervious surface footprint.

Key Performance Indicator:

  • Goal: 10% improvement by 2015 (Reduction in Gallons per VM, RVM, PMT)
  • Baseline Year: 2009

PERFORMANCE METRICS
Water Consumption (Gallons)
Year (FY) Total Per VM Per RVM Per PMT
2009 203,717,652 2.098 29.284 0.132
2010 202,630,180 2.088 29.546 0.130
2011 172,759,916 1.764 24.730 0.106

Initiatives:

  • Track usage systemwide
  • Evaluate cost-effective opportunities to reduce meter size
  • Install roof rainwater collection systems
  • Conduct an analysis of water recycling mechanisms on vehicle washer systems
  • Capture and recycle water for reuses
  • Improve stormwater control and reduce stormwater runoff
  • Improve water fixtures and conservation at SEPTA facilities
  • Retrofit or construct buildings to accommodate green roofs
  • Expand tree planting by partnering with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
  • Partner with stakeholders to protect natural habitats

From The Journal:

Other Resources:

  • [Forthcoming]

Goal 3: Energy Intensity

SEPTA depends on energy for every aspect of its operations, from powering railcars and buses to heating stations and illuminating track signals. The fuel and power needed to move SEPTA's vehicles and run its facilities represents eight percent of the agency's operating budget, 4.5 million mmBtu in overall usage. In all, SEPTA's energy consumption rose by 1.5 percent between 2006 and 2009, but changes in energy use vary greatly by sector. Fuel consumption for building heat, for example, rose 7.6 percent each year over that period, while vehicle energy use grew by less than one percent annually. Trends in energy consumption can be tracked against trends in operating performance through the metric of energy intensity, or consumption per vehicle mile. This breakdown demonstrates how targeted initiatives, such as greater integration of hybrid-electric buses, can minimize changes in energy consumption while enabling SEPTA to expand its operations.

Key Performance Indicator:

  • Goal: 10% improvement by 2015 (Reduction in kbtu per VM, RVM, PMT)
  • Baseline Year: 2009

PERFORMANCE METRICS
  Energy Consumption (kbtu)
Year (FY) Total Per VM Per RVM Per PMT
2007 4,307,339 46.14 648.15 3.01
2008 4,337,209 46.15 646.07 2.83
2009 4,448,609 45.81 639.48 2.88
2010 4,325,674 44.57 630.74 2.78
2011 4,320,854 44.13 618.53 2.66

Initiatives:

  • Prioritize energy-efficiency projects
  • Encourage conservation among employees
  • Continue non-revenue fleet management planning efforts
  • Install LED lighting
  • Install lighting motion sensors
  • Replace inefficient systems and appliances
  • Implement wayside energy storage systems
  • Take advantage of natural lighting and ventilation

From The Journal:

Other Resources:

Goal 4: Waste Management

Across the system, SEPTA produces a variety of waste streams ranging from purely municipal to hazardous and non-hazardous industrial waste. Producing waste, aside from filling landfills and contributing to environmental degradation, comes with a direct cost: the contracts SEPTA lets for waste removal exceed $1 million annually. For these reasons, SEPTA is better managing its waste flows through a waste minimization program at maintenance facilities and through the resale of scrap materials and waste oil. Still, insufficient data exists to adequately track and manage waste flows.

Key Performance Indicator:

  • Goal: 20% waste diversion
  • Baseline Year: 2011

PERFORMANCE METRICS
  Municipal Waste & Recycling (Baseline FY2011)
Source 1234 Market Headquarters Shops & Transit Facilities* Regional Rail Stations* Other Locations* Total
Waste (Tons) 233 10,471 5,701 462 16,868
Recycling (Tons) 47 0 573 0 621
Diversion (%) 16.8% 0.0% 9.1% 0.0% 3.6%

* Estimates

Initiatives:

  • Quantify and track SEPTA's material flow
  • Create green procurement policies
  • Institute lifecycle analysis
  • Promote SEPTA rider conservation
  • Evaluate repair-return-leasing opportunities
  • Increase contractor awareness
  • Expand upon scrap commodity management and surplus material sales program
  • "Close the loop" with recycled materials

From The Journal:

Other Resources: