Sustainablility

Sustainability, preserving the environment, being socially responsible and maintaining economic viability, with an overall contribution to quality of life, is integral to what we do and what we provide as the public transportation industry. Many APTA members have already made sustainability a strategic objective and have made great strides to increase the sustainability of their own organizations, in great part as a way to become more resource efficient, engage more with employees and customers and grow ridership, market share and funding support. And the drive towards sustainability is increasing as issues such as climate change, energy independence, preservation of resources and quality of life rise to the forefront in the public and political arenas.
 
The APTA sustainability commitment aims to give APTA members credit for the efforts they are already making as well as support those who are taking first steps. The commitment sets out common sustainability principles, an action plan and a course for progress. The commitment also supports the exchange of good practice and aims to mark the achievements in sustainability the public transportation industry is making overall. Through the commitment, the public transportation industry is demonstrating its significant contribution to and measurable leadership on sustainability.
 
All APTA members, whether from the public or private sectors, are eligible to sign the APTA sustainability commitment on a voluntary basis. APTA members who sign on commit to putting core internal processes and actions into place which set the basis for continuous improvement on environmental, social and economic sustainability. Signatories can obtain higher recognition levels of the commitment by achieving additional actions, putting long-term processes into place and attaining reduction targets for a series of set indicators.

Transit continues to drive sustainability and provide an affordable ride to critical destinations for those who may not otherwise have one. Mobility for all citizens is something worth investing in, and we are happy to provide free rides for our own passengers as part of this celebration. -TARTA CEO Laura Koprowski. 

In addition to TARTA’s Sustainability Commitment with the American Public Transportation Association, the transit agency is also a member of the Toledo-Lucas County Sustainability Commission, a group of representatives from local businesses, government, and non-profit organizations who work to promote and educate the benefits of sustainability in the Toledo region.
 

The Sustainability Commission chooses projects using the holistic model of sustainability, often referred to as the “triple bottom line,†seeking to address environmental, economic, and social issues.
 

Greater Toledo: Going Beyond Green Regional Sustainability Plan, developed by the Toledo-Lucas County Sustainability Commission, is now available for public review and comment here.
 

For more information about the Sustainability Commission, including members, projects, and materials, please visit LucasCountyGreen.com.