The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has recognized Foothill Transit for reaching the Platinum Level, the highest recognition possible, in the APTA Sustainability Commitment Program.

Sustainable practices are built into everything we do.

At Foothill Transit, we embrace sustainability. We believe it benefits all aspects of our business. At the same time, it helps the communities we live in and serve. We’re proud to announce that we are now the first bus-only public transit system in North America to attain APTA’s Platinum Level for significant sustainability accomplishments. In fact, there are only five public transit systems in North America that have attained this top Platinum Level.

“I congratulate Foothill Transit on reaching the Platinum Level in our Sustainability Commitment Program,” said Richard A. White, APTA Acting President and CEO. “Reaching this level means that Foothill Transit has demonstrated tremendous leadership in developing and implementing significant sustainable processes that are good for business, good for the environment and good for the community. As the first bus-only public transit system to reach the Platinum Level, they are leading the way and serving as a model for the public transportation industry.”

“Responsible stewardship of all the resources entrusted to us is an important value at Foothill Transit,” said Doran Barnes, our Executive Director and APTA Chair. “It makes good business sense and exposes another facet of how we can positively impact the quality of life in our communities.”

We’re pleased that our efforts to care for our communities have yielded such positive results, and we’re proud of all the hard work that went into this achievement.

In this long period of extreme drought in California, we were able to cut our water consumption by almost 30 percent thanks in part to using recycled water for washing our bright white buses. We also competed – twice! – in the EPA’s Energy Star Battle of the Buildings challenge to empower all the members of the Foothill Transit family to find creative ways to use less water and energy. This significant success in reducing water consumption helped alleviate depleted local and state water resources.

We’ve also committed to operating a 100% electric bus fleet by the year 2030. We currently operate one of the largest electric fleets in the United States. We’re even planning to debut two double-decker all-electric buses in the near future. They’ll operate on the Silver Streak and help to increase passenger capacity on one of our most popular routes.

Sustainable practices aren’t only about protecting our environment. We are also committed to social sustainability. We’ve led diversity training for our staff, promoted accessibility by partnering with Guide Dogs for America to train service animals on public buses, and established a Class Pass student rider program to provide discounted transit passes to students.

Foothill Transit was a founding signatory of the APTA Sustainability Commitment in 2009, and received Gold Level recognition in 2015.

Public transit systems and businesses who voluntarily participate in the APTA Sustainability Commitment program pledge to implement processes and actions that create continuous improvements in environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Based on specific measurable achievements, public transit systems and businesses are given Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Level recognition. First started in 2009, 139 public transit agencies and businesses have signed on to the APTA Sustainability Commitment. Currently, 38 signatories have received recognition.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is a nonprofit international association of 1,500 public and private sector organizations, engaged in the areas of bus, paratransit, light rail, commuter rail, subways, waterborne services, and intercity and high-speed passenger rail. This includes: transit systems; planning, design, construction, and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions; transit associations and state departments of transportation. APTA is the only association in North America that represents all modes of public transportation. APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical transit services and products.