Committed to Sustainability
Foothill Transit Park & Ride implements environmentally friendly initiatives.
Written by Derek Prall
13th November 2014
The recently constructed $9.9 million Foothill Transit Park & Ride Facility parking structure in Industry, Calif., provides parking for transit customers who choose public transportation for commutes into downtown Los Angeles.
This five-level, 216,000-sqare foot, 620-car parking structure is Foothill Transit’s first-ever agency-owned park and ride facility. The facility has pedestrian plazas, secure bike lockers for local cyclists, LED lighting and a large mural by California artist Hannah Daly. Future plans include 18 electric vehicle charging stations and rooftop solar panels.
“Increased safe and easy access to public transportation benefits everyone,” says Doug Tessitor, Foothill Transit’s board chair. “Each person on board is one less car on the freeway. And this new Industry Park & Ride makes it possible for all of us to enjoy cleaner air and safer, less congested streets.”
Commitment to sustainability and patrons’ safety was the driving force for installing 262 LED luminaires both in the structure and on the exterior perimeter walls. While no state or federal mandates regulated the lighting technology, management and the board sought an innovative and energy efficient structure.
“We are pleased with the results that include reduced energy consumption than if we installed traditional fixtures. One of our goals is to have low operational expense while improving visibility and safety for anyone using the Park & Ride structure, especially during evening hours,” says Sharlane Bailey, Foothill Transit director of facilities.
Bailey and the board views lighting as an important safety resource in the parking structure and that the lighting selected reduces impact on the environment. The LED luminaires selected provide superior glare control without compromising light levels, helping to ensure the safety and security of park and ride patrons.
Foothill Transit is committed to a sustainable environment and part of its mission statement is innovation. To that end, Foothill Transit has a total fleet of 331 buses, 316 of which are Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) -powered and 15 of which are fast-charge battery electric buses. Additionally, Foothill Transit is the first transit agency in the nation to electrify a bus route; line 291 utilizes nine fast-charge electric buses that serve the cities of Pomona and La Verne, Calif.
To reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the agency implemented a solar array project at its two operating facilities located in Arcadia and Pomona, Calif. In addition, Foothill Transit’s Arcadia facility has developed an Environmental & Sustainability Management System (ESMS) program and is ISO 14001 certified. Foothill Transit is currently working on having the Pomona Operations & Maintenance facility certified under ISO standards.Foothill Transit Park & Ride implements environmentally friendly initiatives.
