EPA New England: Greening Our Operations

Transportation

Reducing the health and environmental impacts of transportation by improving our fleet and promoting alternative methods of travel

Cars and trucks are among New England's largest sources of air pollution:

• Vehicles emit about one-third of all volatile organic compounds and half of the nitrogen oxides and air toxics that contribute to poor air quality.
• They contribute more than half of New England's ozone forming pollutants, aggravating asthma and other respiratory ailments.
• They release carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas and known contributor to global climate change.

While transportation is crucial to our economy and our personal lives, its impacts compel us as an Agency and as individuals to be smarter about our transportation choices. EPA New England works with community, state and business partners to:

• Reduce air pollution from the transportation and construction sectors through Greater Boston Breathes Better, a public-private partnership working to reduce air pollution and improve public health in Greater Boston.

• Reduce air pollution and traffic congestion as a Best Workplaces for Commuters employer. As the first government agency in New England to join the list of Best Workplaces for Commuters in 2002, EPA New England is among the employers who provide outstanding commuter benefits which help reduce traffic congestion, improve employee recruiting and retention, and minimize the environmental impacts associated with commuting.

While we encourage our partners to develop programs and projects that will improve public health by reducing air pollution and traffic congestion, our EPA New England Green Team is taking active steps to ensure that EPA New England is doing its part to “walk the talk.” EPA seeks to improve the fuel efficiency of our vehicle fleet and promote alternative transportation options.

Our Fleet
EPA New England is a geographically small region that is mostly accessible by highway travel. As a result, our fleet is frequently used by staff for field sampling, compliance and assistance activities, emergency response, and routine travel to meetings, workshops and other events.

To address the impact of this travel, we're steadily reducing fuel consumption and emissions from our fleet. We're improving maintenance, promoting carpooling by staff, and procuring higher gas mileage vehicles to increase fuel efficiency.

Key accomplishments since 2002 include:

• Increasing the fuel efficiency of the Boston fleet from 20.8 (2002) to 30 mpg. (Fall 2006)
• Upgrading our fleet with hybrids and other more fuel efficient vehicles

Commuting & Work-Related Travel
Our Boston office is easily accessible by mass transit, including bus, subway, water taxi and commuter rail. In 2005, 90% of EPA New England's Boston employees commuted to work via of mass transit. An increasing number of employees bike, walk or run to work.

As a Best Workplace for Commuters employer, our commuter benefits package meets the national standard of excellence. It includes:

• Transit subsidy program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Flexiplace Program
• Compressed Work Schedules
• Secure Bicycle Storage Area

Our Green Team's environmental education effort, Educating Employees provides employees information about additional steps they can take at work, home or play to reduce the impacts of their transportation practices.

EPA continues to reduce the number of miles we drive for work-related travel.

• We've made improvements to our fleet reservation system to better match vehicles to user's needs (i.e. distance traveling, type of vehicle required, etc.). This system also prompts users to consider carpooling and public transportation alternatives.
• We're providing detailed travel directions between Boston and frequently visited destinations (e.g. state offices) that are accessible via public transit. Employees can access these door-to-door instructions on the EPA New England Intranet system.
• We're increasing the use of video and teleconferencing and other electronic technologies to reduce our need for face-to-face meetings.

Reducing air pollution from transportation will require new thinking and approaches. From better vehicle engine design to better transit options, we need to address not only the vehicles and the fuels we use, but how we operate them. It will also require collaboration between EPA, state and local governments, manufacturers, transportation planners, and individuals.

Whether it's driving a more fuel efficient vehicle, carpooling, or making fewer trips, we can all take steps in our daily lives to reduce pollution from transportation. Use the links below to learn more about what you can do.

Transportation & Fuels, EPA New England
Regional and national links for EPA and other organizations

Car-Free Transportation Alternatives in New England
Whether you're a resident or planning a visit to New England, you'll find links to car-free transportation alternatives such as bike paths, buses, ferry services, ride-sharing, subways, trains, and trolleys.

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
Find schedule, fare and trip planning information for buses, subways and trains around Massachusetts.

Transportation and Air Quality, US EPA
Protecting public health and the environment by controlling air pollution from motor vehicles, engines, and the fuels used to operate them, and encouraging travel choices that minimize emissions. Includes:

General information on pollution and programs
Consumer information
Vehicles and engines
Fuels and additives
Transportation and planning
Voluntary programs

Best Workplaces for Commuters – Get on the List!

Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT)
Learn more about alternative commute options and other transportation demand management activities.

Fuel Economy.Gov, US Department of Energy, US EPA
Find and compare cars, tips on driving more efficiently, hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles, and lots more.

Global Warming - Actions, EPA
Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation continue to rise. Learn more about the contributing factors and actions you can take.

Telework, US Office of Personnel Management, US General Services Administration
Information for employees who think they might like to telecommute (or are already doing so), for managers and supervisors who supervise teleworkers, and for agency telework coordinators.

Massachusetts Telecommuting Initiative, Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources
The Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources and the Massachusetts Highway Department undertook a project to study the impacts of telecommuting on employers, individuals and society.

Regional Snapshot Since 2002, we've improved the fuel efficiency of our vehicle fleet - now it's up to 30 mpg.