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Green Commute – Sonoma – Marin SMART Area Rail Transit -Yes on Measure I

Human-induced climate change and the catastrophic effects from global warming demand action at every level. Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is an environmental and societal imperative and the reason why many cities in the North Bay have declared a Climate Emergency.

Transportation is the single biggest source of GHG emissions. By shifting to low carbon transportation modes, we can prevent millions of pounds of emissions annually. SMART is a green commute alternative to the one-person-in-one-car model of sitting in traffic idling on the Hwy 101 corridor, emitting tons of GHGs. The 1.72 million people who have ridden on SMART prevented 8.1 million pounds of CO2 emissions, compared to the same trip in a car.

8.1 million pounds CO2 prevented on SMART equal to 4,770 acres of forest carbon sequestration

SMART Runs Clean Diesel Trains

SMART’s clean-diesel trains have modern,

e_cient engines that meet the EPA’s Tier 4

emission standards, cutting particulate

matter emissions by 96% and NOx emissions

by 93% compared to regular diesel engines.

SMART riders have a lower carbon footprint

People who ride SMART emit 33% fewer CO2

per mile than if they drive.

And they get to and from the train using low

emission forms of travel such as walking,

biking and other types of public transit.

14% ride a bicycle

50% walk or take other public transit

SMART riders reduce traffic congestion

A SMART train carries 158 seated passengers. Cars during the commute carry an average of 1.08 passengers.This means that each

SMART train can take 146 cars off the road, reducing traffc congestion and the number of cars idling in traffic.

SMART's commuters free up 12.8 miles on roadways every weekday.

NORTH BAY GREEN PRIORITIES

• The Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority and 8 of 10 Sonoma County jurisdictions have declared a Climate Emergency.

• Addressing emissions from transportation in the North Bay is a good way to address global climate change. Transportation is the #1 source of greenhouse gas emissions in the North Bay making up 53% of the total emissions.

• SMART provides a green choice for commuters and residents who need to travel the corridor for work or any other reason.

• SMART trains have modern, e_cient engines that meet the EPA’s Tier 4 emissions standards, cutting Particulate Matter (PM) emissions by 96% and nitrogen (NOx) emissions by 93% over regular diesel engines. And, in the future, as train technology improves, so will SMART’s.

SMART IS THE GREENER CHOICE

• Choosing a trip on SMART means emitting 33% less CO2 per passenger mile than driving.

• Car commuting in Sonoma and Marin generates 0.5937 pounds of CO2 emissions per passenger mile while traveling on SMART generates 0.3991 pounds of CO2 emissions per passenger mile*.

• If SMART’s 1.72 million riders had driven their cars to their destination, they would have emitted 8.1 million more pounds of CO2 into the environment.

• SMART riders also choose low emission methods for their _rst and last mile connections to or from the train. 50% walked, bicycled or took public transit and 14% of riders carry bikes onboard the train.

• In addition to emitting less CO2 per passenger mile, SMART trains carry more people and take up less space than cars, which frees up space on our roads and freeways.

CAR vs. TRAIN EMISSIONS

Car Commuting -North Bay car commuters average fewer than 1.08* people per car. California Air Resources Board EMission FACtor (EMFAC) emissions model says that in Sonoma County vehicles emitted an average of 0.6412 pounds per mile driven for 2017-2019 vehicles.

SMART Commuting -SMART has consumed 735,868 total gallons of fuel, including ALL fuel consumed for passenger service and rail systems testing. The US EPA says that 22.44 pounds of CO2 emitted per gallon of diesel can be expected. SMART has carried 1.72 million riders traveling an average of 24 miles per trip on SMART, not including first/last mile trips.

Car Travel Emissions

1,724,088 people

x 24 miles

x 0.5937 pounds

24,566,185 pounds of CO2

SMART Travel Emissions

1,724,088 people

x 24 miles

x 0.3991 pounds

16,514,005 pounds of CO2

That’s a difference of 8,052,180 pounds of CO2!

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