As transit agencies face a difficult road ahead, now more than ever we must continue to strive to develop best practices to ensure maximum use of our increasingly limited resources. Here in San Francisco, the Transit First policy outlined in our City charter defines the course the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) must take. Our mission is clear-cut: to provide convenient, safe and environmentally friendly transportation alternatives to the people of San Francisco. As stewards of our respective systems, our commitment to environmental sustainability cannot—and should not—wane. This summer the SFMTA, which operates the Municipal Railway (Muni), will continue “greening” its fleet with the launch of a Compound Fuel Cell Hybrid Bus into revenue service. This federally funded demonstration project showcases next generation hybrid bus technology that will move us closer to our goal of operating a 100 percent emissions-free fleet by 2020. Throughout the demonstration program, data from the Compound Fuel Cell Hybrid Bus Project will be collected by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for analysis, and directly compared to data collected from both conventional buses and Muni’s existing hybrid fleet. This past week we began the final phase of another SFMTA project borne out of collaboration years earlier. As the SFMTA searched for new and innovative ways to increase operational efficiency, we redirected our gaze at the Agency’s transit shelters. Working with transit shelter advertising and maintenance contractor, Clear Channel, and local design firm Lundberg Design, we revisited our approach to shelter construction with a heightened emphasis on sustainability and smart technology. As a result, Muni’s new “Seismic Wave” transit shelter was conceived and may well be the most sustainable shelter under the sun. The new “Wave” shelter features a rippled, crimson or amber plastic roof made of 40 percent post-industrial recycled content. Many of the shelter roofs are embedded with solar-powered photovoltaic cells that can generate up to 100 watts of electricity—enough to power the shelter’s high-efficiency backlit information panels, rooftop lights and NextBus and Push-to-Talk technologies. Up to 40 percent of the surplus energy captured by these hi-tech roofs is recycled back into the power grid. Shelters lengths vary from eight to 16 feet and are constructed using galvanized steel beams created with 60 to 70 percent reclaimed product. An opening in the back of the structure creates improved accessibility and new LED panels are four and a half times more efficient than existing fluorescent lights. Wi-Fi connectivity is also being tested for future implementation. Within a year all 1,100 Muni shelters will be replaced by these new “Wave” shelters. The transit sector must continue to innovate and improve, in spite of the grim realities that shadow us. Collaboration with local, regional and national partners is yet another way to develop compelling strategies and promote the flow of new and innovative ideas.
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