Green Philadelphia Transportation
Aside from being voted the fifth-most walkable city in America by www.WalkScore.com, Philadelphia offers green ways of getting to and around the city in every capacity:
Getting Here
Amtrak
Many visitors to Philadelphia enter via 30th Street Station, a major Amtrak hub situated in the center of the Northeast Corridor with service to other points west and south. In 2007, Amtrak substituted electric locomotives for diesel locomotives on the Keystone Corridor between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, PA, resulting in improved fuel efficiency and schedules. Amtrak has committed to a 6% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from their diesel locomotive fleet from 2003-2010 with their participation in the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX). Amtrak uses diesel fuel produced at a higher volume per barrel of crude oil and electricity produced in the Northeast from a variety of fuels.
The Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
The Philadelphia International Airport recently purchased 13,000 megawatt hours per year of clean, renewable wind energy. A full 7% of their electricity is now from wind power. This purchase offsets more than 14 million pounds of carbon dioxide - the equivalent of planting more than 970,000 trees, or not driving more than 12 million miles. In fall 2007, the Philadelphia Airport earned a Green Power Award from the Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture) for these efforts. The airport is also involved with wetlands creation and restoration and in saving the endangered Red-bellied and Eastern-Painted Turtles in surrounding areas.
Getting Around
SEPTA - Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
SEPTA is the nation’s fifth-largest public transportation system: With a vast network of fixed route services, including bus, subway/elevated trains, trackless trolley, light rail, and commuter rail serving a 2,200 square mile service region and a ridership of 301 million (Fiscal Year 2007 figures.) SEPTA operates 32 diesel-electric hybrid buses and plans to add 400 more by 2011. These are 30 percent more fuel efficient and emit significantly less carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Other buses have been retrofitted so they can use cleaner, ultra low-sulphur diesel fuel. In June 2008, 22 percent more passengers rode the agency's regional rail lines than the same month last year, the highest level of ridership in 25 years. Due to this increased ridership, a number of regional rail trains have recently extended their service hours and increased the number of trains.
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has recently launched its ‘Go Green Go SEPTA’ campaign. SEPTA, partnering with the Clean Air Council and other agencies, aims to educate the public about the vital role public transportation plays in protecting the environment and promoting cleaner air.
Phlash
Center City’s popular purple trolley loop provides a quick, easy, and inexpensive transit option for visitors and locals. The Phlash is a quick and easy connection between the city's historic attractions and cultural institutions as it connects 21 major tourist stops between Penn’s Landing and the Philadelphia Museum of Art with daily service every 12 minutes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. beginning in May and running until the end of October.
PhillyCarShare
A non-profit organization, PhillyCarShare began with nine members and two cars. The organization now boasts more than 35,000 members and a fleet of more than 400 vehicles in 80 different neighborhoods in the greater Philadelphia region, making PhillyCarShare the fastest-growing car-share program in the world. In fact, PhillyCarShare has already taken an estimated 12,810 consumer-owned vehicles off Philadelphia’s roads. The success of PhillyCareShare has prompted a national car-sharing company, Zip Car, to establish operations in Philadelphia as well.
Bike Share Philadelphia
Bike Share Philadelphia is a network of organizations and individuals working to bring community-use bicycles to Philadelphia. A working group has convened to develop a business plan and policy recommendations that will ensure a bikesharing program that is not only successful and sustainable, but also a national model of excellence. The installation of 1,400 new bicycle racks around the City began in September, 2008. The racks will increase the safety and convenience of bicycle transportation in the City and improve pedestrian traffic by clearing the sidewalks of improperly locked bicycles.
