Date: May 2021
To: WMATA General Manager Paul Wiedefeld and Board of Directors
Re: Electrifying the WMATA bus fleet no later than 2045
We the undersigned urge the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) to commit to transition its bus fleet to electric buses on a timeline that meets or exceeds the Clean Energy D.C. Act requirement of 50 percent zero-emission vehicles by 2030 and 100 percent by 2045. Metro also should immediately halt plans to install additional natural gas fueling infrastructure and stop buying fossil fuel buses by no later than 2025.We also are calling on Metro to prioritize deploying electric buses in low-income and environmental justice neighborhoods to ensure they benefit area residents who are disproportionately harmed by smog and other transportation related air pollution.
According to an October 2020 analysis, electrifying Metro’s fleet would save hundreds of millions of dollars in lifetime operating costs, reduce annual carbon pollution by more than 58,000 tons by 2030 alone, and reduce the public health toll that toxic air pollution has on the area’s most vulnerable residents, saving millions of dollars in avoided health care costs each year.
We recognize that Metro is facing a serious fiscal crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic, but as long as it plans to follow through with its bus procurement schedule, it has to consider its long term impact on public health and the environment. The transition to cleaner transportation cannot wait.
District of Columbia
U.S. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton
Councilmember Charles Allen, Ward 6
Councilmember Mary Cheh, Ward 3
Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, Ward 4
Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, Ward 1
Councilmember Brooke Pinto, Ward 2
Note: All 13 D.C. councilmembers introduced a resolution calling on Metro to stop buying fossil fuel buses after its current contract is fulfilled and transition to electric buses as soon as possible.
Maryland
U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (8th District)
State Sens. Pamela G. Beidle (District 32), Jill P. Carter (District 41), Arthur Ellis (District 28), Brian J. Feldman (District 15), Cheryl C. Kagan (District 17), Clarence Lam (District 12), Susan C. Lee (District 16), Jim Rosapepe (District 21), Jeff Waldstreicher (District 18), and Mary Washington (District 43)
State Dels. Gabriel Acevero (District 39), Lorig Charkoudian (District 20), Kathleen M. Dumais (District 15), Cathi Forbes (District 42A), David Fraser-Hidalgo (15th District), Julian Ivey (District 47), Marc Korman (District 16), Brooke Lierman (District 46), Mary Ann Lisanti (District 34A), Sara Love (District 16), David Moon (District 20), Joseline Pena-Melnyk (District 21), Elizabeth “Susie” Proctor (District 27A), Lily Qi (District 15), Kirill Reznik (District 39), Sheila Ruth (District 44B), Emily Shetty (District 18), Dana Stein (District 11), and Geraldine Valentino-Smith (District 23A)
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich
Virginia
U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, 8th District
U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, 11th District
State Sen. Jennifer Boysko, District 33
Alexandria Councilmember Mohamed E. Seifeldein
Loudoun County Supervisor Juli Briskman, Algonkian District
Loudoun County Supervisor Michael R. Turner, Ashburn District
Organization Signatories
Audubon Naturalist Society, Breathe D.C., Center for Clean Air Policy, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Chispa Maryland, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, D.C. Climate Coalition, D.C. Environmental Network, Earthjustice, Electric Vehicle Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Environment America, Environmental Working Group, Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions, Friends of the Earth, Generation180, Green Latinos, Greenpeace USA, Interfaith Power & Light, Labor Network for Sustainability, Moms Clean Air Force, Northern Bus Barn Neighbors, Northern Bus Garage Community Environment Committee, Public Citizen, Sierra Club, 350 Loudoun/Loudoun Climate Project, and Union of Concerned Scientists