MTC, Estuary Partnership protecting Bay Area waterways

Hybrid and electric vehicles are becoming more popular and are helping to reduce the air pollution known as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, created by traditional combustion engine vehicles. However, all vehicles, including hybrid and electric vehicles, contribute to other kinds of pollution – including water pollution.

MTC works with the San Francisco Estuary Partnership on strategies to prevent water pollution that occurs through stormwater runoff. Particles from vehicles – including tire, engine and brake pad wear – release heavy metal dust into roadways, which then flows into the stormwater system and nearby groundwater. These particles can harm plants and animals and have negative impacts on environmental conservation efforts.

Additionally, vehicles sometimes leak oil, grease or antifreeze, which also can end up polluting the Bay Area water system. These risks exist for traditional combustion-engine vehicles as well as hybrids and electric vehicles.

MTC is working with local communities to reduce the number of vehicle-miles traveled (VMT) throughout the Bay Area and to help prevent this pollution. VMT refers to the total distance that a vehicle is driven. The more miles that a vehicle is on the road, the more it contributes to pollution.

Plan Bay Area, the Bay Area’s long-term regional plan, is helping to prioritize investments that will make the Bay Area more connected and healthier for the future, including limiting the amount of VMT in the region by:

• Improving public transit service, including transit priority and other programs that speed transit vehicles through congested corridors.
• Incentivizing carpool.
• Offering transit fare discounts for youth, seniors, riders with disabilities or low incomes.
• Improving pedestrian and cyclist safety programs, and investing in a regional bikeshare system.
• Adopting a transit-oriented communities (TOCs) policy, which supports efforts to reduce the region’s GHG emissions by encouraging housing and business development that is near to transportation. The goal is to put public transit in reach for more people and improve the quality of life in the Bay Area.

Help with public transit travel planning is available at 511.org.