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Appendix A
SURVEY
Survey Process
An initial generic e-mail was sent to all survey candidates, asking them to fill out the survey within two weeks. An additional
reminder e-mail was sent to those agencies that had not yet responded after one week. Finally, one third set of personalized
e-mails was sent to those agencies that had not responded after two weeks. In addition, project panel members were asked to fol-
low up with survey candidates as far as possible. Additional assistance was offered to agencies that were having difficulty meet-
ing the specified deadline. The response deadline was ultimately extended by two weeks for agencies that needed extra time.
The survey was administered using on online survey tool, SurveyMonkey. The length of the survey varied depending on
participants' responses to individual questions. The survey used "skip logic" to present only the relevant questions to each
respondent. For example, if a respondent answered that her agency is pursuing a particular type of strategy, she was presented
with two additional questions to gather further detail on those strategies. If not, these questions were automatically skipped.
Because the scope of this study is broad, the survey included a large number of questions. Depending on responses to indi-
vidual questions, a completed survey ranged in length from 37 questions to 72 questions. A few agencies did not complete
the entire survey. Participants were provided with the option of completing the survey in either an online or printable format.
Completed surveys were accepted from February 13 through March 17, 2009.
Survey Questionnaire
Current Practices in Greenhouse Gas Emissions Savings from Transit:
Basics
Research Purpose: The purpose of this survey is to gather information about the efforts of transit agencies to reduce green-
house gas (GHG) emissions from transportation, as part of a Synthesis of Practice being prepared for the Transportation
Research Board. The following questions will ask what specific strategies your agency is pursuing and whether you have
estimated the emissions savings that will result from strategies. Strategies that reduce GHG emissions typically encompass
those that reduce energy consumption or use alternative forms of energy. Based on the results of this survey, some agencies
will be asked to serve as case studies. Additional case study research will be conducted by telephone interview.
Survey Instructions: Please expect to spend 3045 minutes to complete the survey in full. You can exit the survey at any
point and return later to fill in skipped questions or change answers to questions. Your responses will be automatically saved.
Please note that you must continue the survey from the same computer on which you started.
1. Please complete the information below.
Transit Agency:______________________________
Contact Name:_______________________________
Title:_______________________________________
Email:______________________________________
Telephone:_ _________________________________
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2. Is your agency considering how it can reduce GHG emissions from its own operations and/or from the regional trans-
portation footprint (e.g., through formal or informal discussions, quantification of GHG emissions, or participation in
state, regional, or local climate planning)?
Yes
No
Strategies: New Service
The following questions ask about specific strategies that your agency may be planning or implementing.
3. Are you planning or implementing measures for new, expanded, or increased transit service?
Yes
No
4. For each applicable category, are you planning or implementing measures, or both?
Planning Implementing
Expanded route coverage
Increased service frequency
Increased hours of operation
New service types (e.g., BRT or LRT)
Other (specify below):
5. What role have GHG emissions played in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies?
Reducing GHG emissions is a principal factor in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies.
Reducing GHG emissions is a factor in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies,
but not a principal one.
The agency is aware of the potential impact of these strategies on GHG emissions.
The agency has not considered the impact of these strategies on GHG emissions.
Comments
Strategies: Improve Existing Service
6. Are you planning or implementing strategies that would increase ridership or load factors on existing transit
service?
Yes
No
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7. For each applicable category, are you planning or implementing measures, or both?
Planning Implementing
Transit marketing campaigns
Provision of real-time transit information or trip planning software
Improved transit shelters and station stops
Improved transit access for bicycles and pedestrians
Improved transit access for the disabled and elderly
Improved vehicle comfort
Service improvements, e.g. timed transfers, reduced travel times,
improved modal integration
Changes in fare structures or payment methods
Safety improvements
Optimization of existing routes and services
Other (specify below):
8. What role have GHG emissions played in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies?
Reducing GHG emissions is a principal factor in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies.
Reducing GHG emissions is a factor in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies, but not a principal one.
The agency is aware of the potential impact of these strategies on GHG emissions.
The agency has not considered the impact of these strategies on GHG emissions.
Comments
Strategies: Compact Development
9. Are you planning or implementing strategies to promote compact development patterns or transit oriented develop-
ment (TOD) complementary to transit service?
Yes
No
10. For each applicable category, are you planning or implementing measures, or both?
Planning Implementing
Station area planning
Coordination with local/regional development decisions
Other (specify below):
11. What role have GHG emissions played in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies?
Reducing GHG emissions is a principal factor in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies.
Reducing GHG emissions is a factor in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies, but not a principal one.
The agency is aware of the potential impact of these strategies on GHG emissions.
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The agency has not considered the impact of these strategies on GHG emissions.
Comments
Strategies: Congestion Mitigation
12. Are you planning or implementing strategies that would reduce roadway congestion (e.g., bus lanes, bus pull-outs,
signal timing for transit vehicles), in addition to any service changes previously noted?
Yes
No
13. For each applicable category, are you planning or implementing measures, or both?
Planning Implementing
Bus-only lanes
Signal preemption/signal timing for transit vehicles
Bus pull outs
Other (specify below):
14. What role have GHG emissions played in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies?
Reducing GHG emissions is a principal factor in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies.
Reducing GHG emissions is a factor in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies, but not a principal one.
The agency is aware of the potential impact of these strategies on GHG emissions.
The agency has not considered the impact of these strategies on GHG emissions.
Comments
Strategies: Vehicle Fuel Efficiency
15. Are you planning or implementing strategies to improve the fuel efficiency of the existing transit fleet?
Yes
No
16. For each applicable category are you planning or implementing measures, or both?
Planning Implementing
Anti-idling policies or technologies
Vehicle maintenance programs
Vehicle engine retrofits
Driver education
Other (specify below):
17. What role have GHG emissions played in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies?
Reducing GHG emissions is a principal factor in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies.
Reducing GHG emissions is a factor in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies,
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but not a principal one.
The agency is aware of the potential impact of these strategies on GHG emissions.
The agency has not considered the impact of these strategies on GHG emissions.
Comments
Strategies: Lower Emitting Vehicles
18. Are you currently operating or planning to purchase low GHG-emitting transit vehicles (e.g., high mpg buses, hybrid
buses, CNG buses)?
Yes
No
19. For each applicable category, are you planning to purchase, purchasing, or currently operating these vehicles? (Check
all the apply.)
Planning to Purchase Purchasing (i.e.,
Currently
(i.e., in short or long funding secured
Operating
range plan) or orders placed)
Higher efficiency conventional (ICE) vehicles
Hybrid-electric vehicles
Electric vehicles
Alternative fuel/flux-fuel vehicles (vehicles designed for
alternative fuels)
Vehicle conversion kits
Other (specify below):
20. What role have GHG emissions played in the agency's decision to purchase these vehicles?
Reducing GHG emissions is a principal factor in the agency's decision to purchase these vehicles.
Reducing GHG emissions is a factor in the agency's decision to purchase these vehicles, but not a principal one.
The agency is aware of the potential impact of these vehicles on GHG emissions.
The agency has not considered the impact of these vehicles on GHG emissions.
Comments
Strategies: Alternative Fuels
21. Are you using or planning to use alternative fuels in any transit vehicles?
Yes
No
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22. For each applicable fuel type, are you currently using the fuel? Are you planning to begin or increase use of the fuel?
Planning to Begin
Currently Using
or Increase Use
Ethanol
Biodiesel
Electric vehicles
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
Hydrogen
Electricity
Other (specify below):
23. Please describe any plans to increase use of alternative fuels in transit vehicles.
24. What role have GHG emissions played in the agency's decision to use alternative fuels?
Reducing GHG emissions is a principal factor in the agency's decision to pursue these fuels.
Reducing GHG emissions is a factor in the agency's decision to pursue these fuels, but not a principal one.
The agency is aware of the potential impact of these fuels on GHG emissions.
The agency has not considered the impact of these fuels on GHG emissions.
Comments
Strategies: Construction and Maintenance
25. Are you planning or implementing strategies to reduce energy consumption or GHG emissions from your agency's
infrastructure construction and maintenance activities?
Yes
No
26. For each applicable category, are you planning or implementing measures, or both?
Planning Implementing
Use of alternative fuels/technologies in non-revenue vehicles
Changes to construction equipment, vehicles, or fuels
Use of alternative construction materials
Recycling construction waste
Sourcing materials locally
Other (specify below):
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27. What role have GHG emissions played in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies?
Reducing GHG emissions is a principal factor in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies.
Reducing GHG emissions is a factor in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies, but not a principal one.
The agency is aware of the potential impact of these strategies on GHG emissions.
The agency has not considered the impact of these strategies on GHG emissions.
Comments
Strategies: Other
28. Are you planning or implementing strategies to reduce energy consumption or GHG emissions from the agency's
administrative functions?
Yes
No
29. For each applicable category, are you planning or implementing measures, or both?
Planning Implementing
Employee commuting
Employee travel
Energy used in office buildings
Energy used in maintenance yards
Other (specify below):
30. What role have GHG emissions played in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies?
Reducing GHG emissions is a principal factor in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies.
Reducing GHG emissions is a factor in the agency's decision to pursue these strategies, but not a principal one.
The agency is aware of the potential impact of these strategies on GHG emissions.
The agency has not considered the impact of these strategies on GHG emissions.
Comments
Strategies: Additional Detail
31. Please describe any additional strategies that your agency is planning or implementing to reduce GHG emissions.
32. Please describe in more detail your agency's top 3 (if any) strategies intended to reduce GHG emissions, either from
operations or from the regional transportation footprint.
Analyses: Emissions Displaced by Transit
The following questions pertain to techniques used to estimate the impact and cost-effectiveness of GHG reduction strate-
gies. For each strategy that you indicated your agency is considering or implementing, please indicate which if any types of
quantitative analysis have been performed.
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33. Have you estimated (or are you estimating) the impact of exiting transit or planned improvements to transit service on
VMT, fuel use, or GHG emissions from private autos?
Yes
No
34. Have you forecast (or are you forecasting) the impact of new transit service or improvements to existing service on
VMT, fuel use, or GHG emissions from private autos?
Yes
No
35. For each applicable category, which impacts have you analyzed or are your analyzing?
GHG Emissions
Vehicle Miles Traveled Fuel Use in
from Private
in Private Autos Private Autos
Autos
Expanded route coverage
Increased service frequency
Increased hours of operation
New service types (e.g., BRT or LRT)
Transit marketing campaigns
Provision of transit information
Improved transit shelters and station stops
Improved transit access for bicycles and pedestrians
Improved transit access for the disabled and elderly
Improved vehicle comfort
Service improvements, e.g., timed transfers, reduced travel
times, improved modal integration
Changes in fare structures or payment methods
Safety improvements
Optimization of existing routes and services
Other (specify below):
36. Briefly describe the analyses and methodologies. Please provide references to guidance documents and any other writ-
ten documentation.
37. Have you estimated (or are you estimating) the impact of your existing transit service on VMT, fuel use, or GHG emis-
sions from private autos?
Yes
No
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38. Briefly describe the analyses and methodologies. Please provide references to guidance documents and any other writ-
ten documentation.
39. Have you estimated (or are you estimating) the additional impact of transit service on travel in private autos due to
related land use changes (i.e., compact development facilitated by transit)?
Yes
No
40. Briefly describe the analyses and methodologies. Please provide references to guidance documents and any other writ-
ten documentation.
41. Have you estimated (or are you estimating) the additional impact of transit service on private auto fuel use or GHG
emissions due to reduced congestion?
Yes
No
42. Briefly describe the analyses and methodologies. Please provide references to guidance documents and any other writ-
ten documentation.
Analyses: Emissions Produced by Transit
43. Have you estimated (or are you estimating) baseline or historical GHG emissions produced by your transit agency?
Yes
No
44. Which emissions are included? (Check all that apply.)
Transit vehicle emissions
Emissions from office buildings
Emissions from maintenance yards
Construction equipment emissions
Emissions associated with production or transportation of materials (embodied emissions)
Other (specify below)
45. Briefly describe the analyses and methodologies. Please provide references to guidance documents and any other writ-
ten documentation.
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46. Have you reported or are you planning to report your GHG emissions to the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), The
Climate Registry, or other carbon registries?
Yes
No
47. Briefly describe your experience with reporting your GHG emissions to carbon registries.
48. Have you forecast (or are you forecasting) the impact of any strategies on your transit agency's fuel use or GHG
emissions?
Yes
No
49. For each applicable strategy category, which impacts have you forecast or are you forecasting?
Fuel/Energy Use GHG Emissions from
by the Transit Agency Vehicles and
Agency Operations
Expansion of transit service
Changes in transit vehicle fleets and/or fuel mix
Energy efficiency measures for office buildings
Energy efficiency measures for maintenance yards
Changes to construction equipment and/or fuel mix
Changes to construction materials
Other (specify below):
50. Briefly describe the analyses and methodologies. Please provide references to guidance documents and any other writ-
ten documentation.
Analyses: Cost Analyses
51. Have you estimated (or are you estimating) the cost-effectiveness of strategies to reduce VMT or GHG emissions ($/
VMT or $/ton)?
Yes
No
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52. Briefly describe the analyses and methodologies. Please provide references to guidance documents and any other writ-
ten documentation.
Analyses: Additional Information
53. Have you used any additional resources or guidance documents, other than those already mentioned, to quantify GHG
emissions?
Yes
No
54. What additional resources or guidance documents has your agency used to quantify GHG emissions?
55. Are you aware of the draft APTA guidance on quantification of GHG emissions?
Yes
No
56. In conducting any analyses of GHG impacts, what challenges have you faced? What additional information, research,
and tools are needed?
Planning and Implementation Issues
57. How are GHG emissions considered in your agency's decision making? (Check all that apply.)
In long term planning
In short term planning
In plans for specific lines/services
Informally considered
Not considered
Other (specify below)
58. Has your agency adopted or begun to develop policies to reduce GHG emissions (e.g., reduction targets or a climate
plan)?
Yes
No
59. Please describe these policies.
60. Is your agency affected by any state, regional, or local GHG policies?
Yes
No
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61. What are the relevant policies? How is your agency affected by them?
62. Has your agency discussed climate change issues with state, regional, or local governments?
Yes
No
63. Briefly describe the discussion's scope and context. Which agency initiated discussions?
64. What are the greatest challenges your agency faces in reducing GHG emissions? (Rank all that apply, where 1 is the
greatest challenge.)
Rank
Difficulty describing the GHG benefits of strategies to stakeholders/decisions makers
Insufficient partnerships with other regional players (e.g., cities, MPOs, other transit
agencies)
Lack of staff know-how
Technical barriers to implementation of emissions reduction strategies
Planning mechanisms/procedures do not consider GHG emissions
Lack of staff capacity (person-hours)
Lack of organizational mandate/policy
Lack of appropriate tools, data, or analysis techniques
Lack of funding
Other (specify below):
65. What does your agency need to overcome these challenges (e.g., specific training, research, additional staff hires,
etc.)?
66. Does your agency have a designated staff person to address climate change/GHG emissions issues?
Yes
No
67. In what department is the staff person housed?
68. Does your agency have any additional efforts to reduce GHG emissions, other than those already mentioned? Please
describe.
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Synthesis Report
69. If selected, would you be willing to serve as a case study for this TCRP Synthesis report?
Yes
No
70. Do you have any suggestions of other agencies that we should survey and/or consider as case studies? Please provide
contact names.
Agency Name/
Contact Name:
Agency Name/
Contact Name:
Agency Name/
Contact Name:
71. What information would you most like to see provided in this TCRP Synthesis of Practice?
72. Please describe. Please provide any additional comments below.
Thank You!
If you would like to submit additional information or documents, or you have questions or comments about this survey, please
contact Frank Gallivan (fgallivan@icfi.com). Thank you!
