Sustainability
The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) is an environmentally-conscious public transit provider. We aim to offer rail transportation that is not only safe, on-time, convenient and a good value, but also environmentally friendly, as stated in our mission statement.
Metrolink is committed to offering high-quality public transit service with the least possible amount of environmental impact. We strive to meet these commitments with continually improved efforts in the following areas:
Our Green Choices and Innovations
Have a GREEN idea for Metrolink? Email us at communityrelations@scrra.net
For information regarding our safety measures and policies, please visit our safety page here.
For information regarding our innovations, please visit our innovations page here.
Sustainable Transportation
By replacing automobile trips and reducing traffic congestion, Metrolink plays an integral part in reducing vehicle emissions in the Southern California region. We strive to make our regional transportation model more sustainable by providing affordable, high-quality public transportation.
Our Ridership
- Metrolink removes approximately 8,700,000 weekday automobile trips every year.*
- From 2010 to 2011 our average weekday ridership has increased by 7.9%.
- Metrolink reduces traffic congestion by removing approximately 18,000 cars from the roads daily.
- The cars Metrolink removes daily from freeways prevents 94,140 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) from being released into the air daily.
*This figure is derived from average station boardings multiplied by car availability, divided by average people per car with annualization.
Measuring Your Carbon Footprint
Be more environmentally friendly by riding Metrolink. According to the American Public Transportation Association, one commuter switching his/her commute from a private vehicle to a commuter train can reduce his/her CO2 emissions by more than 4,800 pounds annually.
- Measure your carbon footprint savings with the American Public Transportation Association’s carbon savings calculator here.
Multimodal Connections
Metrolink is committed to the goal of cleaner air in Southern California. We work with various transportation agencies throughout the region to offer our riders greener and more efficient ways to reach their Southern California destinations.
Bicycles
Metrolink promotes bicycle transportation.
- More than 85% of our train stations are equipped with one or more of the following: bicycle racks, bicycle lockers and bicycle lids.
- We have added 12 specialty Bike Cars, which can each hold up to 18 bicycles, as part of our green initiative to expand bicycle travel with our trains. Our regular cars can hold up to three bicycles. We are working to expand our Bike Car program and to add more Bike Cars by October 2012.
For more information about our green Bike Cars, please click here.
Buses and Light Rail
Metrolink continues to work with various transit agencies in Southern California to improve public transit connectivity. Metrolink pass holders can transfer for free to Metro buses and rail, specialty shuttles and municipal buses in the following counties:
- Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura
For a complete list of our free connection participants, please visit our Transit Connections Page.
Our Green Choices and Innovations
Although Metrolink prides itself on its commitment to a more sustainable and clean Southern California, we believe that we can all strive to do more. We continue to assess and evaluate our choices to reduce the impact of our operations and to find new ways to provide sustainable transit trips for our riders.
Our People
- Currently, 80% of Metrolink employees commute to work using public transportation. The 2010 national average of Americans who use public transit to commute to work is less than 5%. We strive to do our part to continuously improve this figure.
- Through our Corporate Pass Program, we work with approximately 144 companies around Southern California to aid and encourage employees to commute to work using public transit. To learn more about our Corporate Pass Program please contact Laurene Lopez at CPPSales@scrra.net.
Our Neighbors
Metrolink is dedicated to serving the region’s transportation needs while remaining a good neighbor to our surrounding communities. We continue to examine our maintenance and service operations to maximize our efficiency and minimize our impact.
For example, in April 2012, Metrolink initiated a ground power plug-in program at its Central Maintenance Facility. This technology enables trains to run on electricity during times of service and inspection, reducing noise and emissions associated with the use of engine power.
For more information about our efforts at the Central Maintenance Facility in Los Angeles, please click here.
Green Vehicles
- Metrolink currently operates 154 support vehicles. Our fleet vehicles include electric, hybrid, low-emissions and flex-fuel varieties.
Efficient Buildings
- Metrolink is headquartered at the MTA (Metro) Gateway Building adjacent to Los Angeles Union Station. Since May 2011, Metrolink has operated in a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star for Superior Energy Efficiency building.
- Commercial buildings that earn the EPA Energy Star use on average, 35% less energy and release 35% less CO2 into the atmosphere than typical commercial buildings.
- Installed in the building are occupancy sensors, lighting system timers, water saving systems and recycling bins, among other energy optimization systems and practices.
To learn more about the green procedures at the MTA Gateway Building, please click here.
Solar Powered Facility
In April 2012, the Metrolink Industry Station was outfitted with approximately 8,000 photovoltaic solar panels covering 940 parking spaces. The Metrolink Industry Carport Project is the largest of its kind in Southern California.
- The mounted panels of 8,372 photocells, 196 LED lights and 44 miles of wiring are quietly generating electricity using natural sunlight.
- The panels are capable of generating two megawatts of electricity per hour.
- According to Southern California Edison, the panels will generate enough electricity to power 1,300 homes at any given time. (For example, if the sun shines on the panels for eight hours, the homes can be powered for eight hours.)
- The facility also houses 64 charging stations for electric vehicles.
Fuel Conservation Program
Metrolink’s Fuel Conservation Program, implemented in May 2010, limits fuel consumption of idling trains prior to dispatch for passenger service. Consequently, all operations are carried out with minimal locomotive idling.
In addition, Metrolink has installed Automatic Engine Start Stop (AESS) mechanism on locomotives to prevent excessive idling, reduce fuel use and reduce emissions. The installation of AESS on our Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) locomotives was funded in part by South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (AQMD) Carl Moyer Program. The Carl Moyer Program provides competitive grants for the incremental cost of cleaner-than-required engines, vehicles and equipment. The program focuses on cleaning the air by replacing older heavy-duty diesels with electric, alternative-fuel or cleaner diesel technologies.
In 2010 – 2011, AESS, in part with our Fuel Conservation Program, reduced our fuel consumption by 860,000 gallons. As of May 2012, 32 of our 52 locomotives have been equipped with this technology.
To learn more about AQMD’s Carl Moyer Program funding please visit the webpage here.
Pilot Plug-in Program
In April 2012, Metrolink implemented its pilot Plug-in Program, which uses plug-in power at its Central Maintenance Facility in Los Angeles. This technology enables trains to run from ground power throughout a portion of our daily servicing and maintenance routine rather than relying on locomotive power alone. This innovation further reduces emissions generated by the locomotive engines. We have successfully implemented the pilot program and continue to look for ways to maximize its use and to expand the program to more locations.
“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”
Metrolink aims to incorporate sustainable environmental practices at all levels of our organization. We take the “reduce, reuse, recycle” concept seriously and apply it to Metrolink from top to bottom. Here are just a few small steps we have taken to “reduce, reuse and recycle” within Metrolink.
- We have reduced our train idling time at our maintenance facility by approximately 33%, which reduces our emissions.
- We recycle much of our waste material, both hazardous and non-hazardous. We dispose of and recycle our engine oil, oil filters, antifreeze, train brakes, train batteries and many of our train parts in a safe and green manner.
- We have repurposed our older cab cars and converted them into our new specialty Bike Cars, which allow for greater public transit connectivity.
- We have started to replace conventional air conditioners on our trains with EPA Energy Star air conditioners.
- We have replaced traditional fork lifts used at our facilities with electric-powered ones.
- Our bi-monthly newsletter, Metrolink Matters, is printed on 100% recycled paper stock with soy ink.
As you can see, we here at Metrolink truly believe that when it comes to recycling and global sustainability, every little bit counts.
Environmental Accountability
Environment, Emissions and Air Quality Regulations
South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) enforces rules 401 and 402 through random, unscheduled visits to our facilities. Additionally, AQMD inspectors are dispatched to our facilities when a complaint is logged. To date, our facilities have not been in violation of current regulations and are consistently found to be in compliance.
- Rule 401 Visible Emissions - Limits the time length and color of smoke emissions based upon the Ringelmann Type Chart. To read more on Rule 401, please click here.
- Rule 402 Nuisance – Limits the quantity of air contaminants which cause injury or annoyance to any “considerable” number of persons or the public, or which endanger the public. For more on Rule 402, please visit AQMD’s page here.
Water Regulation
Metrolink is required to commission a third party agency to bi-annually test the quality and management of water at the following facilities:
- Central Maintenance Facility, Los Angeles, CA
- Eastern Maintenance Facility, Colton, CA
- Stuart Mesa Maintenance Facility, Camp Pendleton, CA
Metrolink is in compliance as of our most recent testing. Water testing findings are reported to the Regional Water Quality Control Board. To learn more about the water testing procedures in Southern California, please visit the State Water Resources Control Board here.
Federal Regulations
Metrolink operations are subject to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), which dictate the frequency and nature of mechanical inspections. The following CFR sections describe the federal requirements:
- 229.21 Daily Inspections - Requires locomotives to be inspected and tested daily.
- 238.303 Exterior Inspections - Exterior mechanical inspection of passenger equipment each calendar day.
- 238.305 Interior Inspections - Interior mechanical inspection of passenger equipment each calendar day.
- 232.205 Class 1 Brake Test Initial Terminal Inspection – Functional air brake test at location where train is assembled.
- 238.313 Class 1 Air Brake Test – Functional air brake test required each calendar day.
To view the most current electronic Code of Federal Regulations, please click here.
Future Initiatives
New Silver LEED certified Operations Center
Metrolink is in the process of constructing a new Operations Center that will be Silver LEED certified. The center, which will be conveniently located next to the Metrolink Pomona-North Station, will use 20 percent or more recycled materials and will be equipped with energy-saving LED lighting. It will also include low-impact stormwater treatments such as bioswales and infiltration planters, which are landscape features that will manage water runoff and allow for natural filtration into the ground. The new Operations Center is expected to be completed in 2014.
Fleet Upgrade
The Metrolink Board of Directors authorized the agency to enter into a contract to secure Tier 4 locomotives at its Dec. 14, 2012 meeting. The locomotives are expected to reduce particulate matter (PM) by 86% and nitrogen oxides (NOX) by 84%. Metrolink is on pace to become first in the country to achieve Tier 4 status in revenue service. The first three demonstration locomotives are scheduled to be complete in the fall of 2015.
The program will allow Metrolink to secure 20 new Tier 4 locomotives. Metrolink has allocated $129.4 million for the purchase of the locomotives. The Board’s decision also committed Metrolink to the testing of alternative fuel sources in future operations. Metrolink will make the first locomotives replaced by the new Tier 4s available to the South Coast Air Quality Management District for the purposes of experimentation with various alternative fuel technologies expected to be commercially available in the next decade.
To learn more about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s locomotive exhaust emission standards, please visit their online reference guide here.
Have a GREEN idea for Metrolink? Email us at communityrelations@scrra.net
For information regarding our safety measures and policies, please visit our safety page here.
For information regarding our innovations, please visit our innovations page here.
Last updated Dec. 21, 2012
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