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The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority operates the second largest rail transit system and the fifth largest bus network in the United States.
Metrorail and Metrobus serve a population of 3.5 million within a 1,500 square-mile area. The transit zone consists of the District of Columbia, the suburban Maryland counties of Montgomery and Prince George’s and the Northern Virginia counties of Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church. Overall, 42 percent of those working in the center core-Washington and parts of Arlington County-use mass transit.
Metro opens doors to a cleaner environment. With its positive effects on the environment, Metro clearly benefits everyone.
Transit in our area removes 350,000 cars from the region’s highways and their pollutants from the air. By choosing to take transit instead of your car, your trip produces fewer of these pollutants:
- 95% less carbon monoxide.*
- 92% less volatile organic compounds.*
- 48% less nitrogen oxide.*
- 45% less carbon dioxide.*
Eco-Friendly Buses
Since 2002, we’ve added compressed natural gas buses into our fleet. And recently, we’ve introduced diesel electric hybrid buses and advanced technology diesel buses. Some are on the road today and 
more are on the way.
The term “hybrid-electric bus” refers to a vehicle with at least two sources of power. This bus draws power from a clean diesel, heavy-duty engine combined with a drive unit and electric energy batteries located on the roof of the vehicle. The bus switches automatically between battery power and clean diesel power depending on the speed and torque.
The clean hybrid technology found in this bus reduces emissions by 90% compared to conventional diesel-fueled buses. Fuel consumption is reduced by up to 40% and as a result, harmful greenhouse gas emissions and engine maintenance costs are reduced. The hybrid bus is quieter, cleaner, and runs more smoothly than conventional buses.
* Source: American Public Transportation Association. Conserving Energy and Preserving the Environment: The Role of Public Transportation
