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4/22/2022
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has joined a Federal Transit Administration initiative to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions among the nation's transit services.
The agency has pledged to develop a sustainability plan that details strategies to reduce carbon emissions as part of the Sustainable Transit for a Healthy Planet Challenge. That plan will involve addressing climate resiliency and making stations and facilities more energy efficient, WMATA officials said in a press release.
More than 170 transit agencies across the country are participating, including those in New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, Seattle and San Francisco.
"Taking public transportation is one of the best ways for people to have the biggest impact on the environment. Whether you take the train or bus, that’s one less vehicle on the road," said WMATA General Manager and CEO Paul Wiedefeld.
WMATA has already had multiple sustainability initiatives in the works since it published the 2020-2021 Sustainability Report, which highlights the agency's progress. The report includes traction power upgrades to support additional eight-car trains and a 10-year strategic joint development plan to promote transit-oriented development.
In June 2021, WMATA also adopted its Sustainability Vision and Principles and Zero-Emission Vehicles Goals, which sets a direction for the agency's capital investments, operational planning and regional engagement on climate initiatives.