An efficient public transport system is an essential part of a sustainable community.

Riding the bus, train and ferry is fun, fast and eco-friendly. Transperth passengers reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 232,000 tonnes a year and greenhouse gas emissions from public transport is the equivalent of one third of private cars

Below are some of the other ways that public transport helps the environment.

The PTA’s B-series electric trains, introduced in 2004, are fitted with regenerative brakes. When the breaks are applied, they generate electricity which is returned to the grid. This has reduced our energy consumption a minimum of 20 per cent.

Transperth is gradually replacing its diesel bus fleet with a new generation of gas-powered buses using Australian compressed natural gas. Their Euro 4 engines are turbo-charged, fuel-injected and low-emission, well in advance of Australia's environmental standards.

The introduction of the SmartRider ticketing system has seen a reduction in waste by cutting the quantity of throw-away paper tickets required. The travel data collected by this electronic ticket system also allows the PTA to plan services more efficiently.

The PTA’s railcar washing facilities (at Claisebrook and Nowergup depots) recycle more than four and a half million litres of water a year.

The PTA has worked with a number of agencies to promote the sustainability benefits of Transit Orientated Developments (TOD). These developments encourage residential developments around transport hubs, reducing reliance on car-based travel.