2021 EDUCATION SESSIONS
Moving Metro Towards Efficiency and Resiliency
May 5, 10:30-11:30 am
Approved for 1.0 general GBCI CE and 1.0 AIA LU
Speakers
Emma West, Business Intelligence Analyst, WMATA
Claudia Glen, Operations Research Analyst, WMATA
Description
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) recognizes the role it plays in supporting regional sustainability and resilience. Transportation is now the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States and in the D.C. metropolitan region, largely as a result of personal transportation choices. Metro moves nearly 1 million riders each day - A sustainable, efficient and resilient transportation network that can reduce emissions and sustain the negative effects of extreme weather is essential for the safety, livability and economic prosperity of the region. Metro is making wise investments and operational enhancements to increase energy efficiency, resilience, and promote innovation and modernization.
In 2019, Metro released its 2025 Energy Action Plan - comprised of approximately 40 projects that are changing the way Metro does business, increasing energy efficiency and quality of service by promoting innovation and data driven decision-making. One of these projects is the installation of inverters to capture and reuse energy from braking trains. The otherwise wasted energy is converted to power accelerating trains on nearby sections of track. The first installation of this technology is underway on Metro’s blue line in Virginia.
In July 2020, Metro announced its partnership with SunPower Corp and Goldman Sachs Renewable Power LLC (GSRP) to install nearly 13 MW of solar canopies and drive local investments in community solar. Metro will host the solar canopies on its parking lots and garages at four Metrorail stations in both Washington, D.C. and Maryland. The solar canopies will generate renewable electricity through a community solar program for eligible customers in Pepco’s Washington, D.C. and Maryland service territories – generating enough energy to power up to 1,500 homes.
In 2021, Metro launched a research effort to result in a Resilience Implementation Strategy (RIS). This project is a collaboration with the National Capital Region Transportation Research Board and Georgetown University to review regional resilience planning and projects related to transit infrastructure. The project will deliver an analysis of resilience planning gaps and opportunities, identify climate change modelling and data projections commonly used in the region, and an initial geographically targeted vulnerability scan to identity risk zones within Metro’s service area. The full strategy is expected to be completed by mid-2023.
This presentation will focus on three project highlights within Metro’s Sustainability Program that help ensure Metro can continue to provide transit service for the region while supporting the region’s resiliency and carbon neutrality goals.
Learning Objectives
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Identify transportation as a critical player in regional sustainability and resiliency.
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Identify extreme weather as a prevalent threat to the region’s transportation network.
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Identify Metro as a significant regional energy user and key partner for innovation and investments.
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Reference three active projects that increase the efficiency and resiliency of Metro’s operations.