How High-Tech Public Transportation Benefits the Environment
Transportation is one of the biggest contributors to gas emissions, accounting for roughly one-fifth of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions annually. As concerns continue to grow over worsening climate conditions, reducing the number of single-occupancy vehicles on the road is one way to drive down environmental impact.
Public transportation isn’t just a cost-effective travel alternative, it’s also more sustainable than private vehicles, accounts for less than one percent of greenhouse gas emissions, and is one of the most effective ways individuals can reduce their carbon footprint. We can further support these efforts by introducing innovative technology into the conversation. Here’s how.
The Impact of Using Public Transit
With an increased focus on sustainability, households are constantly looking for ways to conserve energy––public transit provides an easy alternative for individuals to reduce their carbon footprint. By switching from a 20-mile commute alone in a single-passenger car to taking public transit, one person can reduce their CO2 emissions by 48,000 pounds annually. In the U.S., public transit can decrease fuel dependency and save 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline a year, while lessening congestion on roadways.
The federal government also sees the potential in public transit and decarbonization goals, evident in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. As the largest investment in America’s infrastructure in generations, the $107 billion contribution to transit intends to help transportation agencies:
- Reduce their maintenance backlog.
- Replace the aging fleet by investing in cleaner, greener vehicles.
- Repair, upgrade, and modernize bus and rail fleets.
Modernizing Fleet
A key part of making progress towards decarbonization goals is modernization. Although transit agencies throughout the country have adopted electric and hybrid vehicles, only two percent of buses in the U.S. are zero–emission or battery-powered. Traditional diesel buses emit 200,000 pounds of carbon dioxide annually while electric buses have no tailpipe emissions. Investing in these sustainable options not only provides better environmental benefits, but also cost-savings like reduced fuel costs. With grant programs like the Low or No Emissions Program and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, transit agencies could potentially overcome purchase costs to make these investments.
Measuring Change
For companies across all industries, high-tech solutions lend a helping hand in understanding and measuring environmental impact. The only way to implement change in the transportation world is to understand where there’s room for improvement. This may seem like a difficult task, but innovative solutions can help track, measure, and understand how and where transit agencies can make a difference.
Data is already acting as a valuable resource to help improve the world. Now, it even has its role in improving the public transportation industry. Data aggregation such as automated passenger counting and route utilization can provide transit agencies with actionable and accessible insights into their operations. With route utilization, transit agencies can create a flexible route system that maximizes resources by only operating vehicles when they’re needed. Companies can also gain greater visibility into peak times and areas through passenger counting, which enables them to better allocate resources and address underperforming routes and wasteful activity.
By integrating a detailed reporting dashboard into their fleet, they’ll be able to support more informed decision-making related to reducing their carbon footprint, improving rider safety, increasing cost savings, and more over time.
A Smart Solution to Today’s Environmental Challenges
Climate action efforts can’t wait––now’s the time to invest in solutions that can enhance your fleet’s operations while reducing its environmental impact. PassioTech’s industry-leading technology provides dynamic, web-based reporting that can build a more sustainable future by decreasing the environmental impact of transit while keeping riders safe and reducing costs. Contact us today to learn more if you’re ready to drive results and reduce your fleet’s carbon footprint.
