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The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is committed to the development of an environmentally sustainable regional public transportation system. Working with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace, the RTA has found ways to preserve the environment and improve the quality of life in the region through developing a regional Green Transit Plan, capitalizing on the federal Livable Communities Program and operating an RTA Green Team to increase energy efficiency and reduce expenses.
“Public transportation is a green industry, and transit agencies are working together to make it geener,” said RTA Executive Director Steve Schlickman. “We can make a difference by taking simple steps to improve our environment. Our more than 2 million daily riders do it every time they use public transportation as their efforts minimize congestion on the highways and reduce harmful emissions.”
The RTA was recognized for its environmental commitment by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), who recently launched a Sustainability Commitment Plan that recognized APTA members for their greening efforts. The RTA has committed to following a set of core principles:
- Including sustainability within the RTA’s strategic objectives
- Identifying a sustainability champion within the RTA
- Establishing an outreach program on sustainability for staff
- Undertaking a sustainability inventory of the RTA
The RTA participated today in a first of its kind Earth Day Transportation Summit in Chicago that involved seven Chicago-region transportation agency leaders brainstormed and shared ideas on ways to improve the environmental vision and economic growth for the region.
The coordinated effort will be fundamental in reducing our region’s carbon foot print and promoting the economic growth and environmental quality by operating an integrated and coordinated transportation system that maximizes efficiency, reduces costs and improves service.
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