Energy Demands
Mass Transit
Overview
Mass transit consists of buses, rail and train systems, and water taxis and ferries; all of which can use various types of energy. For example, buses can run on diesel (petroleum), natural gas, biofuels, hydrogen and electricity.
Facts
Public transportation helps promote cleaner air by reducing the use of automobiles. In New York City alone, residents help avoid emitting 17.4 million metric tons of greenhouse gases per year by using subways, trains and buses.
Source: “It's Official: MTA Critical to New York's Low Carbon Footprint." MTA, April 2010: http://www.mta.info/mta/news/releases/?en=100421-HQ14
At the same time, many newer buses are being fuelled by alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas and hydrogen fuel cells. These vehicles, along with various hybrids, not only improve air quality, but also reduce public transportation’s reliance on oil-based fuels.
Source: American Public Transportation Association
Per passenger-mile, public transport uses half the amount of fuel consumed by automobiles and a third of the amount consumed by SUVs and light trucks. Public transportation reduces gasoline consumption by 1.5 billion gallons annually. A person who commutes 60 miles each way daily could save an estimated 1,888 gallons of gasoline every year by switching from using a car to using public transportation.
Source: Center for Transportation Excellence; available: http://www.cfte.org/trends/benefits.asp
Source: National Alliance of Public Transportation Advocates; available: http://www.napta.net/actioncenter/resources/publications/preserving_air.asp
The energy saved by public transportation in the U.S. each year is equal to around 45 million barrels of oil. This is about one month of oil imports from Saudi Arabia; three months of the energy that Americans use to heat, cool and operate their homes; or half the energy used to manufacture all computers and electronic equipment in America.
Source: National Alliance of Public Transportation Advocates
The future of mass transit may be a multi-modal approach that incorporates both high-speed scheduled mass transport and individualized on-demand short distance (public) transport. Automation—from providing information at one end of the spectrum to fully autonomous driving at the other—will play a major role. By 2030 the first automated highway systems will be under construction, incorporating intelligent vehicles and partially automated segments of underground roadways.
Source: Masstransitmag.com; Acceleration Studies Foundation