Tools for a Sustainable Transit Agency (2018) / Chapter Skim
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37 Cost-Benefit Case Study Database Need for Tool The APTA Sustainability Commitment focuses on identifying sustainability metrics and targets and defining actions to meet these targets. However, there is little guidance on what resources (e.g., equipment costs, staff time)
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38 Tools for a Sustainable Transit Agency strategies, but often have limited time to conduct research or identify best practices from among their peers. In order to help their transit agencies innovate, they need information that will be compelling to decision makers and other staff.
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Second Iteration Tool Proposals 39 However, this tool could be further developed as an online tool, including as an update to APTA's Sustainability Forum, which includes the capability for users to comment and give feedback on different questions and strategies, outside the scope of this project. For an example of a searchable online database of transportation case studies that is similar to what we are proposing, see the Transportation Project Impact Case Studies database (TPICS http://www.tpics.us/)
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40 Tools for a Sustainable Transit Agency strategies (e.g., alternative fuels and vehicles, forming a sustainability program) we are likely to find a large number of examples, while for others we may not.
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Second Iteration Tool Proposals 41 Sustainability Change Management Roadmap Need for Tool Transit agencies often find that there are barriers to fully mobilizing a sustainability program, because sustainability programs impact each department in an organization differently. Barriers can include short-term budget planning, narrowly-focused assignments, and team silos.
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42 Tools for a Sustainable Transit Agency Form and Main Functions of the Tool The tool will consist of an interactive PDF that is organized around a roadmap that outlines key steps in the process of building a sustainability program. Based on the work that team members have done with various transit agency sustainability programs, these steps might include: • Create sustainability champions • Communicate agency values • Clarify expectations • Create tools for governance • Set targets and monitor results At each step, the tool will include the following content: • Common barriers that transit agencies encounter at this point in the process.
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Second Iteration Tool Proposals 43 Key Questions and Uncertainties Are departmental and organizational structures similar enough between transit agencies that we could make recommendations about integrating sustainability that are broadly applicable across all transit agencies? The answer to this question will shape the format of the roadmap that is at the center of this tool.
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44 Tools for a Sustainable Transit Agency 3. Develop solutions, potentially addressing the following areas: a.
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Second Iteration Tool Proposals 45 ment or conduct an employee engagement survey among participating transit agencies. Potential solutions in this area might include: – Evaluation language that incorporates sustainability into annual performance reviews.
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46 Tools for a Sustainable Transit Agency • Grant programs that fund the purchase of emerging technology buses, but cannot be counted on in future years. • Low bid procurement processes, which tend to penalize procurements with higher, up front capital costs that result in either lower life cycle operating costs or reduced future capital investments.
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Second Iteration Tool Proposals 47 Manufacturers and suppliers may indirectly benefit from both the RFPs which are outcomes from this tool and from greater transparency in the procurement process. Manufacturers will be better positioned to bid on the anticipated specifications, and their suppliers will be better positioned to provide components and services.
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48 Tools for a Sustainable Transit Agency The Argonne National Laboratory's AFLEET tool provides a starting point for transit agencies to evaluate alternative technologies for propulsion systems. AFLEET provides inputs including: • Vehicle propulsion type • Number of vehicles • Annual mileage/vehicle • Vehicle price • Fuel price • Years of planned vehicle ownership • Loan, loan terms, and discount rate Figure B-4 shows the AFLEET inputs table.
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Second Iteration Tool Proposals 49 specifications and contract language that transit agencies can re-use as templates with customization for local laws and agency policies. Additional links will be provided to transit agency contacts and best-practice transit agency documents that establish policies that guide bus procurement, to support transit agencies who need to ask their board or chief executives to change policy, creating a new long term procurement structure, prior to implementing a sustainable procurement.
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50 Tools for a Sustainable Transit Agency • Part II: Procurement Language Library – Identify and research bus models and specifications that address various goals in sustainability, such as fuel type, energy consumption, emissions, recyclability and material composition. – Identify transit properties that have acquired buses with these specifications, and which models and attributes are reflected in their fleets.
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