Every Day Should be Earth Day

The official “Earth Day” may have passed, but there’s no reason to wait a year to protect the planet. The Pacific Northwest is known to be a region that leads earth-friendly initiatives. The grassroots recycling activity there in the early 1970’s spread throughout the country making recycling a part of the public consciousness. Fast forward to the new millennium when alternative fuels and green technology began powering many of the region’s transit systems.

Transportation contributes 47 percent of the harmful emissions that contribute to global warming in Washington State. Decreasing use of automobiles in the rapidly growing Puget Sound region and moving people more efficiently with alternative transportation modes has been gaining momentum.

And that’s a good thing, given that the single most effective way to reduce CO2 emissions is by leaving the car parked and taking the bus, biking or walking instead.
Operating in the environmentally sensitive Puget Sound region, a small city transit system is making big differences through its commitment to the environment. Intercity Transit, the public transportation agency for Thurston County, has made sustainable practices an operational priority, including referencing sustainability in its public mission statement “to provide and promote transportation choices that support an accessible, sustainable, livable, healthy, and prosperous community.” The agency has been a leader in earth-friendly operations, including being among the first transit systems in the nation to fuel its entire bus fleet with biodiesel fuel, as well as install electric car plug in stations and employ broad recycling and conservation measures.

Every Day is Earth Day for Intercity Transit

“Choosing transit for your commute is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce your own carbon footprint,” said Mike Harbour, Intercity Transit General Manager.  More people are making that choice in the South Puget Sound region. Carrying over 5.1 rides on the agency’s fixed-route system, commuter vanpools, van services and Dial-A-Lift, Intercity Transit is heartened by the significant number of new riders turning to transit. The agency reports ridership system wide has increased 50 percent since 2006.

Upcoming Earth Friendly Events

• National Train Day – Saturday, May 8, 9 am – 2:30 pm, Amtrak Centennial Station and two other locations
celebrating rail transportation. Call 360-705-5891.
• Bike to Work and School Day – Friday, May 21. E-mail [email protected] or call 360-705-5839.
• Transit Fairs at 5 area worksites. Call 360-705-5836 or e-mail [email protected].
• Youth Events at area schools and public locations (9 events) – E-mail [email protected] or call 360-705-5839.

Hybrid Buses Purchased with Federal Stimulus Funds
The agency’s most recent planet-friendly news is the arrival of the region’s first six hybrid diesel-electric buses later this summer, which will replace the oldest vehicles in the transit fleet. The high tech buses are made possible by a $2.3 million stimulus fund award provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The hybrid buses will use less fuel, produce lower emissions, and are likely to require less maintenance and have a long operational life cycle. The hybrid buses are also smooth riding, produce less diesel odor, and are quieter for passengers and the neighborhoods they travel through.
“We owe Senators Murray and Cantwell, and Representatives Baird and Smith many thanks for their ongoing support of important regional programs that benefit both transit and the environment,” states Mike Harbour, Intercity Transit General Manager. “Use of hybrid buses is one more way the public transportation industry can model environmental stewardship,” he added.

Record Bicycle Commuting Witnessed in Capitol City
Bicycling in the Pacific Northwest is big, but so is cycling as a commute mode to work. This spring, about 1,600 Thurston County cyclists are expected to commute by bike to work and school, logging over 100,000 miles and saving an estimated 100,000 pounds of CO2 emissions in May (figures based on similar participation level in 2009). The month-long event, administered by Intercity Transit, Thurston County’s nationally-recognized public transportation agency, rewards new and veteran cyclists with prizes and other rewards. The Bicycle Commuter Contest has broken record participation levels each year for the past four years, has received national attention for its innovation and success and, in 2010,
has a record 51 sponsors. The event also provides cycling tips and activities, educational opportunities, bike safety checks and helps promote bike-and-ride use of transit.
Intercity Transit also encourages cyclists to submit feedback on cycling conditions they find throughout the county, then compiles the data and reports it to area jurisdictions. City and County staff

and elected officials consider the information in decisions related to bike and pedestrian infrastructure development.

Transit Recognized for Green Practices
The Olympia-based transit system has been recognized by local, state and national awards for its sustainable efforts. This includes the American Public Transportation Association’s Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award (mid-sized system), Washington State Department of Ecology’s Environmental Excellence Award, the Governor’s Commute Smart Award, two Thurston County Green Business Award and numerous national APTA Ad Wheel Grand Prize awards.