Environment & sustainability

Improving the environment and sustainability

By using transit, riders:

• Get a fast, reliable and affordable alternative to driving
• Help reduce air pollution and improve surface water quality

In 2009, Seattle public transit commuters saved:

• Time - more than 14 million hours (that's 44 extra hours a year) were wasted driving in traffic
• Gasoline - Nine million gallons of fuel

Sound Transit's commitment

• Carefully consider environmental impacts and protection when designing the transit system.
• Lessen the impacts of construction by providing mitigation for sensitive ecosystems.
• Keep the region clean and green by ensuring proactive compliance with all applicable environmental regulations and laws.
• Carry out our Sustainability Initiative.
• Implement our Environmental and Sustainability Management System (ESMS), which is certified to the rigorous international standard ISO 14001.

What is sustainability?

At Sound Transit, sustainability means making the planet a better place by creating and maintaining a healthy environment, community and economy.

Sustainability is categorized in three ways: people, planet and prosperity.

• Transit connects people and communities.
• Getting out of cars and into trains and buses significantly improves the planet's air and water quality.
• Transit provides access to jobs and helps build economic prosperity.

For more information on Sound Transit's Sustainability Initiative, email esms@soundtransit.org

Contact:

Perry Weinberg
Director, Office of Environmental Affairs and Sustainability and Senior Legal Counsel
perry.weinberg@soundtransit.org, 206-689-4931