Announcements

FTA Releases Updated Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimator Tool

Published on: March 22, 2022

As part of its recognition of Earth Day, FTA has released an updated Transit Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) Estimator that includes added functionality to generate estimates of lifecycle energy use in the construction, operation, and maintenance phases of a transit project. The GHG Estimator version 3.0 now also includes 100% renewable energy as an electricity source and has updated GHG emission factors. The GHG Estimator is used with the Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Transit Projects: Programmatic Assessment published in January 2017 to help transit agencies generate project-level GHG emissions estimates for their National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews.

FTA also developed a new companion tool to accompany the GHG Estimator. The new Transit Bus Electrification Tool allows users to estimate the partial lifecycle GHG emissions savings associated with replacing standard bus fleets with low-emission or zero-emission transit buses.

The two spreadsheet tools support the President’s January 20, 2021, Executive Orders on Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis (EO 13990) and Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (EO 14008).

Also on Earth Day, FTA will host an Earth Day event celebrating transit agencies participating in FTA’s Sustainable Transit for a Healthy Planet Challenge. The challenge encourages transit agencies of all sizes to develop strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At the event, scheduled for 1 p.m. ET tomorrow, FTA will recognize the exemplary efforts of 10 transit agencies. Registration is required.

Links:
FTA’s Transit Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimator v3.0
Transit Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimator v3.0: User Guide
Transit Bus Electrification Tool v1.0
Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Transit Projects: Programmatic Assessment
Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis (EO 13990)
Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (EO 14008)
FTA Environmental Programs
Climate Considerations
Register for FTA’s Earth Day event