We're making sustainable business practices a priority every day

The first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970, marking the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement. Demonstrations on that day raised awareness about environmental issues, eventually leading to the creation of protective measures, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Clean Water Act, which regulates pollution and protects rivers and streams.

As a public transportation service provider, Community Transit helps support cleaner air and minimizes the consumption of fossil fuels by providing rides to 21,724 transit passengers each weekday*. An average-sized bus can remove 42 single-passenger cars from the road during a commute, and a single car emits 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year—do the math—that’s a lot of pollution prevented!

Beyond the Bus: Practicing sustainability in every part of our business

• All bus and car wash processes clean our vehicles with 70% recycled water.
• When empty, building control systems optimize heating and cooling systems to reduce energy use and run efficiently during off-hours.
• Recycling of paper, cans, and bottles at all buildings

Sustainability when we maintain and service our vehicles: 

• We recycle scrap metal.
• We have spill management protocols to quickly address fuel or oil spills on the road or at waste collection areas. These efforts protect waterways from contamination.
• We analyze the performance of our buses and adjust maintenance intervals to minimize breakdowns (which could cause spills or leaks) and maximize the useful life of components, which reduces waste.

Sustainability in how we build:

• Community Transit makes it a priority to use sustainable materials and processes in our land use. This resulted in two Greenroads Silver Certifications for our work: the Smokey Point Transit Center in Arlington, WA, and the Seaway Transit Center in Everett, WA. 

Sustainability is a Strategic Priority for the Future

• Zero emissions transition. Community Transit started its zero-emissions planning, leasing a 60-foot articulated BYD battery electric bus. This effort begins a years-long process to plan Community Transit’s transition from buses running on diesel gasoline to electric batteries or hydrogen fuel cells.

• Added Sustainability Program Manager. This role will help develop, implement, and direct the agency’s sustainability network, including its Environmental and Sustainability Management System, to ensure it uses best practices. In addition, this subject matter expert will also be a resource to guide staff and help prioritize Community Transit’s goals by creating a roadmap for overall agency sustainability.

Soon, we will share more information about our zero-emissions planning and interview our new Sustainability Program Manager to find out what’s new in our sustainability efforts. As a rider and supporter of public transportation, thanks for joining us to make our Earth a little cleaner and greener.

Earth Day is this Saturday, April 22. Earthday.org is an excellent resource for learning about its origins and how you can find ways to drive change.


* Data as of February 2023