Public Transportation Energy Consumption
and Environmental Benefit Statistics

Public transportation, while a large user of energy, is a major contributor to energy conservation since multiple-occupancy vehicles use less energy than automobiles on a passenger-mile basis.

Most rail transit vehicles and trolleybuses emit little or no pollution since they are electrically propelled.  Most buses, ferryboats, commuter rail locomotives, and many paratransit vans use diesel, which, with innovations such as clean diesel, are getting less polluting all the time.  Vanpools, many paratransit vans, and a few buses use gasoline.

Many newer buses are being fueled by alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane and hydrogen fuel cells.  These types of vehicles, along with various sorts of hybrid electrics, not only improve air quality, but also reduce public transportation’s reliance on oil-based fuels.  Many transit agencies are only buying alternative-fuel vehicles now.

In addition, transit agencies are also subject to diesel-electric locomotive emissions, scrap tires, vehicle air-conditioning system refrigerants, stormwater runoff from transit facilities, hazardous waste management, underground storage tanks, asbestos and lead-based paint removal, and hazardous wastes in rights-of-way regulations.

NATIONAL TOTALS

NOTE: Data are only available for directly-operated service and those purchased service providers operating 100 or more vehicles at any time; purchased service providers operating less than 100 vehicles are exempt from providing energy consumption data.

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996