Arup celebrates launch of San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit’s 10-year Sustainability Action Plan

Arup served as the lead technical author for the Sustainability Action Plan, developing the technical foundation and framework for implementation. The plan sets forth clear goals, specific supporting actions, and measurable targets designed to guide BART’s decision-making from now through 2035.  

The Sustainability Action Plan is organized around seven main categories: 

• Energy & greenhouse gas emissions: Enhancing energy efficiency, expanding renewable energy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions 
• Water: Reducing the use of potable water resources in operations 
• Waste: Optimizing waste management and prioritizing the diversion of waste from landfills 
• Materials & construction practices: Prioritizing low-carbon materials, construction practices, and operational approaches 
• Resilience & adaptation: Increasing climate resilience to extreme weather and natural disasters like extreme heat, flooding, and earthquakes 
• Transportation & land use: Expanding sustainable mobility and promoting transit-oriented development  
• Rider & employee experience: Increasing ridership and supporting positive passenger and employee experiences 

To develop the framework, Arup, in partnership with Cascadia Consulting Group, conducted a review of existing data and set benchmarks for each of the seven categories. The team then identified areas for deeper investment to address the evolving challenges of climate change, aging infrastructure, and growth in the region. 

“Throughout this process, we heard from riders, community members, our Board, and BART employees about what BART should be prioritizing when it comes to sustainability and the environment,” said Michael Cox, BART’s Manager of Sustainability Projects. “Arup was instrumental in helping take the feedback we received from our stakeholders and helping us translate that into a bold new vision for BART’s sustainability efforts going forward.” 

“Resilience and equity are core drivers for BART,” said Ann Dennis, Senior Consultant at Arup. “Working collaboratively with the agency and building on their previous efforts with the agency, we envisioned a framework that will allow BART to respond to impending climate risks while strengthening its service for those who depend on it every day.” 

Sustainability encompasses both environmental and social factors, and as such the plan includes a particular emphasis on mitigating climate hazards in underserved and environmentally overburdened communities. Critically, the plan incorporates input from the community that the transit system serves. BART and Arup, in partnership with Winter Consulting, conducted a stakeholder engagement process to ensure improvements will benefit riders and employees system-wide. 

The Sustainability Action Plan represents a continuation of BART’s long-term strategy to provide safe, reliable mobility for the Bay Area.  

Read the full plan