|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
5/21/2012 4:41 AM |
|
|
|
|
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
          |
 | |  Sustainability Building a Stronger Company and a Sustainable Future RTA’s Sustainable Commitment Environmental Sustainability is important to RTA. The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is building a stronger company for a sustainable future. We are moving toward reducing our environmental footprint. RTA is focusing on a triple bottom line: People (social) – Planet (environmental) – and Profit (economical), striving to provide the most efficient and sustainable public transportation system for our customers, stakeholders, employees and the public in respect to preserving the environment. OFFERING SOLUTIONS 
Looking ahead to meet sustainability challenges, in 2009 RTA developed a 10 year Carbon Management Plan, which calls for a 20% reduction in
carbon emissions by 2019. One of our major goals, a reduction in energy consumption is already underway thanks to a Federal Transit
Administration competitive grant award of $2.25 million under the Transit Investment for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER)
program. So far, RTA has retrofitted a total of 22,590 light bulbs, fixtures and sensors at seven operating facilities; replaced a roof
at the Woodhill Bus Garage; and installed several overhead doors at our rail facilities. This significant investment toward energy
savings will allow for an annual return on investment (ROI) of over $500,000. Our buildings are becoming
greener too. The Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center is our first LEED designed facility. It is located at Cleveland State University. There are four more additional LEED projects in various design stages including the
University Circle-Cedar, Lee/Van Aken, Mayfield and Brookpark rapid transit stations.Environmental Categories: The following environmental categories are part of the GCRTA’s sustainability program:
Employees Adding Sustainable Value RTA believes that the day-to-day actions taken by each of our employees will ultimately demonstrate our commitment and progress towards sustainable growth. Most companies develop traditional sustainable objectives but we approached employees to find our where their current level and knowledge of environmental preservation were and how it would impact both their personal and work environment. It was necessary to develop a plan to create a valued environment where sustainability and engagement were mutually reinforcing. Our actions are driven by their voluntary initiatives and through a set of policies and procedures to be used as a guide toward successful achievements. With each goal achieved our vision to integrate measurable emission reductions throughout every business level will serve as a breakthrough toward future environmental preservation, cost savings and financial performances.
For an example, employees are participating in an agency-wide recycling and compost program that is part of our Zero Waste@Work Initiatives. We expect a 30% waste stream reduction during our first year of implementation. As we continue to rethink and re-evaluate our operations, RTA will track these successes and disclose sustainable results. Sustainable Operations  RTA enrolled in the Ohio Green Fleets Program to evaluate and learn about alternative technologies to reduce fuel emissions. In addition, employees participate by operating vehicles with respect and care for the environment by powering off revenue and non-revenue vehicles as part of a “no idling” initiative. Further, to reduce non-revenue vehicle use, a supervisor vehicle was replaced with a Segway, personal transit mobile unit. This is a zero-emissions addition to our fleet that will be used to help customers from Public Square to Cleveland State University. We are achieving even in our office environment too by focusing on better emission reductions in areas such as waste diversion, energy conservation, water conservation, green procurement and health & wellness initiatives for a cleaner, safer and sustainable work area. Environmental Stewardship RTA is committed to the development and implementation of programs and initiatives to sustain our environment and our natural resources. The following environmental indicators will be targeted and tracked at the RTA by using the Global Reporting Initiative guidelines (G3) when disclosing performance measurements. Environmental Performance (Planet)
| | |
For more information about RTA’s Sustainability Program, contact Danielle Willis, Planning Team Leader / Sustainability Coordinator at
(216) 771-4144 or dwillis@gcrta.org.
|
