How does public transportation and transit affect global climate change?
Transportation accounts for 29 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. By moving more people with fewer vehicles, public transportation reduces greenhouse gas emissions by providing a low-emissions alternative to driving, facilitating compact development, and minimizing the carbon footprint of its operations. Find research on transit and climate change, tools for measuring and reducing carbon footprints, and information on transportation-related climate change mitigation and adaptation here.

Climate-related changes are already observed in the United States and will increase in the future, according to the Federal government’s Global Change Research Program. These include rising temperature and sea levels, increases in both extreme downpours and droughts, and stronger hurricanes. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions will lower the severity of these impacts over the long-term. However, even with aggressive action immediately to reduce emissions going forward, past emissions will continue to cause climate change impacts for many years. An effective response to climate change must therefore include both mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas levels) and adaptation (reducing the vulnerability of human and natural systems to climate impacts).

Subway tunnels, busways, tracks, and maintenance facilities are vulnerable to an increase in flooding from more intense rain storms, sea-level rise, and storm surge. Also, extreme heat can deform rail tracks, stress materials, reduce asset life, and jeopardize customer and worker health and safety. And, more broadly, public transportation must be positioned and prepared to serve a vital role in providing essential mobility options as communities adapt to the impacts of climate change. Public transportation also provides evacuation services during the extreme weather emergencies that become more common with climate change. Transit dependent populations are particularly vulnerable.

Additional Resources:
FTA Climate Change Adaptation Initiative
Global climate change presents a new challenge to transit providers through increased risk of flooding, sea level rise, extreme weather, and extreme heat. The above link includes FTA’s new report on this topic and for information on FTA’s workshops, webinars, dear colleague letter, and pilot projects to better prepare public transit for future climate changes.

Background on Climate Change and Transportation
This page provides information on the relationship between transportation and global climate change.

FTA’s Transit and Environmental Sustainability Initiative
This section of FTA’s website provides information on transit’s role in environmental sustainability, FTA sustainability efforts, resources and tools, and a clearinghouse of transit agency practices.