Dashboard   >   Emissions and Pollution Control
[2022 ARCHIVE] Yellow leaf icon Metro Sustainability
Dashboard   >   Emissions and Pollution Control

Emissions and Pollution Control

Overview

Transportation plays a major role in reducing regional greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. By providing more convenient, efficient and appealing transportation options, we can move more people while reducing the negative impact that transportation has on the climate and public health. We understand the urgency posed by climate change, which is projected to affect our riders and employees, as well as our infrastructure and services. Consequently, each of our actions must be a step toward achieving regional and statewide GHG emissions goals, and ultimately achieving a zero-operational emission transportation system by 2050.

However, the impacts of our transportation system and its operations extend beyond GHG emissions. We operate within the most polluted air basin in the United States, and we recognize that our fuel consumption and use of chemicals (i.e., refrigerants) contribute to regional air quality issues. Accordingly, our approach to mitigating emissions includes strategies that reduce the formulation of smog and other air pollution - which is critical to protecting regional public health. These strategies include transitioning to cleaner fuels and engines and ultimately electrifying our buses and fleet vehicles.

Program Highlights

Environmental Justice Training
Photo of training attendees seated at a Metro training. Metro's Environmental Justice Training series provided Metro employees with a better understanding of the intersections between various social justice issues and transportation.

Metro's Environmental Justice Training Series, launched in 2022, provides additional education and tools for Metro employees to meaningfully engage with communities on issues related to equity and environmental justice in their work. Metro's Office of Sustainability and Community Relations developed the training series in partnership with two Community-Based Organizations (CBOs): the Social Justice Learning Institute (SJLI), which is dedicated to advancing the education, health and well-being of youth and communities of color, and LA Walks, which trains and mobilizes Angelenos to advocate for safe, walkable communities across Los Angeles.

SJLI and LA Walks provided four interactive training sessions, reaching 518 Metro employees across departments, such as Countywide Planning, Program Management and many others. The series provided employees with additional insight into intersections between social justice issues and transportation, delving into the histories of environmental justice communities in LA County and discussing how vulnerable communities experience disproportionately poor environmental amenities and negative health impacts. The series embodies Metro's commitment to authentic engagement with communities and ensuring community voices are being represented in the region's transportation solutions.

The success of the Environmental Justice Training series was in part due to the strong collaboration that took place among multiple Metro departments, including the Office of Sustainability, Community Relations and Public Relations, and with the two CBO partners. By equipping Metro employees with tools to understand environmental justice foundations and meaningfully engage with communities, the training series empowers staff to advance a more sustainable, inclusive transportation system for all residents of LA County.

2030 Targets

Note: In 2020, Metro updated its GHG emissions calculation methodology to calculate Scope 2 emissions using both market-based and location-based emission factors. The former reflects the actual emissions intensity of utility purchased electricity based on the source mix of the procured electricity, while the latter reflects the average emissions intensity of the regional grid on which our energy consumption occurs.

Understanding this Target

This target measures the operational GHG emissions produced by Metro's transit operations and non-modal sources like facilities. Transit emissions are directly associated with moving passengers on Metro trains, buses and vanpool vehicles. Non-modal emissions refer to emissions not directly associated with moving passengers, including emissions from support “non-revenue” vehicles, facility electricity, natural gas consumption, water consumption, refrigerant use and employee commuting. We are implementing several actions to expedite the reduction of our GHG emissions, including the electrification of our bus and vehicle fleet, increasing renewable energy sourcing and storage and improving electricity, water and other facility fixtures. By implementing these and other measures identified in our Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) and Moving Beyond Sustainability (MBS) Strategic Plan, Metro expects to achieve a 79% reduction in emissions from 2017 levels by 2030.

Target Performance

In 2022, Metro's market based GHG emissions increased to 152,449 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e), a 5.7% rise from 2021 levels. This increase in 2022 corresponds with an upturn in the annual vehicle miles traveled and the associated fuel consumption across Metro's bus and non-revenue fleets, as well as from employee commuting. Mileage for Metro's buses and non-revenue fleet vehicles increased 4.4% and 2.3%, respectively, compared to 2021, while simultaneously, employee commuting mileage increased 17.7%. These increases reflect a return of services and operations, and a reduction in employee telecommuting, post-pandemic.

While many of Metro's emission reduction strategies continue to drive down the agency's emissions, the transition to a 100% electric bus fleet may increase GHG emissions in the short term1. Achieving the statewide goal of 100% clean electricity by 2045 will be critical for Metro to realize the anticipated emission reductions from electrifying the bus fleet. Furthermore, electrification has cost and reliability implications that Metro must navigate in preparation for the transition. These interconnected regional issues emphasize the importance of Metro's role in collaborating with peer agencies, local jurisdictions and utility partners to advance collective solutions to fight climate change.

1This projected increase in GHG emissions due to bus electrification in the short term reflects the fact that the carbon intensity of the electricity grid today (and likely for a few years to come) is higher than the carbon intensity of using 100% RNG in the bus fleet.
Understanding this Target

This target measures tailpipe NOx emissions from Metro's fleet vehicles, including the directly operated and contracted buses, and the non-revenue and vanpool fleets. Recognizing that reducing criteria air pollutant emissions is critical to protecting public health, we have continued to transition our directly operated fleet engines to near-zero emissions engines, which substantially reduced NOx emissions. We have also committed to completely electrifying our bus fleet by 2030, as well as ramping up electrification across our non-revenue and vanpool fleets. These collective shifts in fleet composition are expected to lower overall NOx emissions by 54% by 2030 from 2018 levels.

Target Performance

In 2022, Metro's total NOx emissions from the bus, non-revenue and vanpool fleets declined by 31.7% to 46,812 pounds, compared to 2021 levels. This notable decrease was achieved despite the annual mileage for Metro's buses and non-revenue fleet vehicles increasing 4.4% and 2.3%, respectively, compared to the prior year.

This achievement was driven by the replacement of 149 aging engines in our directly operated bus fleet with near zero-emission NOx engines in 2022, while simultaneously, the proportion of total mileage driven using buses from 2019 or newer increased by 37% compared to 2021. Additionally, the mileage driven by battery electric buses increased 44% in 2022 and now represents 2.7% of all miles driven by the bus fleet. Collectively, these efforts have had a profound impact on regional air quality and exceeded our targeted threshold for NOx emissions of 197,425 pounds by over 400%.

Understanding this Target

This target measures tailpipe PM emissions from Metro's fleet vehicles, including the directly operated and contracted buses, and the non-revenue and vanpool fleets. As with Target 3, initiatives to upgrade engines in our bus fleet and electrify both buses and other vehicles are contributing to ongoing reductions in PM emissions. Altogether, we expect these activities to lower overall PM emissions by 62% by 2030 from 2018 levels.

Target Performance

Particulate matter emissions declined by 1.1% in 2022 to 1,574 pounds, remaining more than 35% below our maximum target of 2,438 pounds of PM emissions per year. The substantial reduction in PM emissions since 2019 reflects the phase out of diesel buses in the bus fleet, as well as reduced annual mileage during the pandemic years. However, as PM emissions are less impacted by engine replacements, the conversion to a 100% battery electric bus fleet is one of the most significant strategies Metro can employ to further reduce PM emissions in future years, especially as annual service miles continue to recover to pre-pandemic levels. As the proportion of electric buses in the fleet increases over the coming years, it is anticipated that PM emissions will continue to decline.

Overview

Transportation plays a major role in reducing regional greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. By providing more convenient, efficient and appealing transportation options, we can move more people while reducing the negative impact that transportation has on the climate and public health. We understand the urgency posed by climate change, which is projected to affect our riders and employees, as well as our infrastructure and services. Consequently, each of our actions must be a step toward achieving regional and statewide GHG emissions goals, and ultimately achieving a zero-operational emission transportation system by 2050.

However, the impacts of our transportation system and its operations extend beyond GHG emissions. We operate within the most polluted air basin in the United States, and we recognize that our fuel consumption and use of chemicals (i.e., refrigerants) contribute to regional air quality issues. Accordingly, our approach to mitigating emissions includes strategies that reduce the formulation of smog and other air pollution - which is critical to protecting regional public health. These strategies include transitioning to cleaner fuels and engines and ultimately electrifying our buses and fleet vehicles.

Program Highlights

Environmental Justice Training
Photo of training attendees seated at a Metro training. Metro's Environmental Justice Training series provided Metro employees with a better understanding of the intersections between various social justice issues and transportation.

Metro's Environmental Justice Training Series, launched in 2022, provides additional education and tools for Metro employees to meaningfully engage with communities on issues related to equity and environmental justice in their work. Metro's Office of Sustainability and Community Relations developed the training series in partnership with two Community-Based Organizations (CBOs): the Social Justice Learning Institute (SJLI), which is dedicated to advancing the education, health and well-being of youth and communities of color, and LA Walks, which trains and mobilizes Angelenos to advocate for safe, walkable communities across Los Angeles.

SJLI and LA Walks provided four interactive training sessions, reaching 518 Metro employees across departments, such as Countywide Planning, Program Management and many others. The series provided employees with additional insight into intersections between social justice issues and transportation, delving into the histories of environmental justice communities in LA County and discussing how vulnerable communities experience disproportionately poor environmental amenities and negative health impacts. The series embodies Metro's commitment to authentic engagement with communities and ensuring community voices are being represented in the region's transportation solutions.

The success of the Environmental Justice Training series was in part due to the strong collaboration that took place among multiple Metro departments, including the Office of Sustainability, Community Relations and Public Relations, and with the two CBO partners. By equipping Metro employees with tools to understand environmental justice foundations and meaningfully engage with communities, the training series empowers staff to advance a more sustainable, inclusive transportation system for all residents of LA County.

2030 Targets

Note: In 2020, Metro updated its GHG emissions calculation methodology to calculate Scope 2 emissions using both market-based and location-based emission factors. The former reflects the actual emissions intensity of utility purchased electricity based on the source mix of the procured electricity, while the latter reflects the average emissions intensity of the regional grid on which our energy consumption occurs.

Understanding this Target

This target measures the operational GHG emissions produced by Metro's transit operations and non-modal sources like facilities. Transit emissions are directly associated with moving passengers on Metro trains, buses and vanpool vehicles. Non-modal emissions refer to emissions not directly associated with moving passengers, including emissions from support “non-revenue” vehicles, facility electricity, natural gas consumption, water consumption, refrigerant use and employee commuting. We are implementing several actions to expedite the reduction of our GHG emissions, including the electrification of our bus and vehicle fleet, increasing renewable energy sourcing and storage and improving electricity, water and other facility fixtures. By implementing these and other measures identified in our Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) and Moving Beyond Sustainability (MBS) Strategic Plan, Metro expects to achieve a 79% reduction in emissions from 2017 levels by 2030.

Target Performance

In 2022, Metro's market based GHG emissions increased to 152,449 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e), a 5.7% rise from 2021 levels. This increase in 2022 corresponds with an upturn in the annual vehicle miles traveled and the associated fuel consumption across Metro's bus and non-revenue fleets, as well as from employee commuting. Mileage for Metro's buses and non-revenue fleet vehicles increased 4.4% and 2.3%, respectively, compared to 2021, while simultaneously, employee commuting mileage increased 17.7%. These increases reflect a return of services and operations, and a reduction in employee telecommuting, post-pandemic.

While many of Metro's emission reduction strategies continue to drive down the agency's emissions, the transition to a 100% electric bus fleet may increase GHG emissions in the short term1. Achieving the statewide goal of 100% clean electricity by 2045 will be critical for Metro to realize the anticipated emission reductions from electrifying the bus fleet. Furthermore, electrification has cost and reliability implications that Metro must navigate in preparation for the transition. These interconnected regional issues emphasize the importance of Metro's role in collaborating with peer agencies, local jurisdictions and utility partners to advance collective solutions to fight climate change.

1This projected increase in GHG emissions due to bus electrification in the short term reflects the fact that the carbon intensity of the electricity grid today (and likely for a few years to come) is higher than the carbon intensity of using 100% RNG in the bus fleet.
Understanding this Target

This target measures tailpipe NOx emissions from Metro's fleet vehicles, including the directly operated and contracted buses, and the non-revenue and vanpool fleets. Recognizing that reducing criteria air pollutant emissions is critical to protecting public health, we have continued to transition our directly operated fleet engines to near-zero emissions engines, which substantially reduced NOx emissions. We have also committed to completely electrifying our bus fleet by 2030, as well as ramping up electrification across our non-revenue and vanpool fleets. These collective shifts in fleet composition are expected to lower overall NOx emissions by 54% by 2030 from 2018 levels.

Target Performance

In 2022, Metro's total NOx emissions from the bus, non-revenue and vanpool fleets declined by 31.7% to 46,812 pounds, compared to 2021 levels. This notable decrease was achieved despite the annual mileage for Metro's buses and non-revenue fleet vehicles increasing 4.4% and 2.3%, respectively, compared to the prior year.

This achievement was driven by the replacement of 149 aging engines in our directly operated bus fleet with near zero-emission NOx engines in 2022, while simultaneously, the proportion of total mileage driven using buses from 2019 or newer increased by 37% compared to 2021. Additionally, the mileage driven by battery electric buses increased 44% in 2022 and now represents 2.7% of all miles driven by the bus fleet. Collectively, these efforts have had a profound impact on regional air quality and exceeded our targeted threshold for NOx emissions of 197,425 pounds by over 400%.

Understanding this Target

This target measures tailpipe PM emissions from Metro's fleet vehicles, including the directly operated and contracted buses, and the non-revenue and vanpool fleets. As with Target 3, initiatives to upgrade engines in our bus fleet and electrify both buses and other vehicles are contributing to ongoing reductions in PM emissions. Altogether, we expect these activities to lower overall PM emissions by 62% by 2030 from 2018 levels.

Target Performance

Particulate matter emissions declined by 1.1% in 2022 to 1,574 pounds, remaining more than 35% below our maximum target of 2,438 pounds of PM emissions per year. The substantial reduction in PM emissions since 2019 reflects the phase out of diesel buses in the bus fleet, as well as reduced annual mileage during the pandemic years. However, as PM emissions are less impacted by engine replacements, the conversion to a 100% battery electric bus fleet is one of the most significant strategies Metro can employ to further reduce PM emissions in future years, especially as annual service miles continue to recover to pre-pandemic levels. As the proportion of electric buses in the fleet increases over the coming years, it is anticipated that PM emissions will continue to decline.