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Sustainable Transportation

Sustainability in Action


WSDOT operations and inventory manager Steve Holloway charges up his Tumwater office's new Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid.


Tumwater office buzzing over new Volt and EV chargers

TUMWATER – Anyone who recently visited WSDOT’s Headquarters Capital Facilities office in Tumwater has seen the future – and the future is electric.

Three brand new electric vehicle pedestal chargers seem to sprout up naturally in the parking lot of the LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Edna Lucille Goodrich building. They arrived just in time to charge the office’s new Chevy Volt, a royal blue plug-in hybrid that offers the best of both worlds – zero-emission transportation and the ability to switch to gas for long-range travel.

According Steve Holloway, WSDOT’s operations and inventory manager, his office is the first in the agency to have a Volt and a row of free charges for employees and visitors, and it’s also a glimpse into the future of what many other WSDOT facilities might look like in a few years.

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6-time champ Washington leads pack again as ‘Bicycle-Friendly State’


Just in time for Bike Month, Washington state finishes first for the sixth consecutive year, as the League of American Bicyclists' No. 1 “Bicycle-Friendly State” in the country.
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What's new?

Sustainable transportation is a durable, adaptable and integrated statewide transportation system that supports Washington's economy, preserves the environment and enhances our communities. It's a strategically managed and operated system that meets society's present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

It's in everything we do
Emissions from transportation-related activities account for nearly half of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Washington. This is one reason why we consider sustainability in all that we do. Our practices make good environmental sense and good economic sense for Washington. Our agency uses a strategic and balanced approach to conserve energy and fuels while reducing greenhouse gas emission from the transportation sector.

Making transportation sustainable
WSDOT is making transportation more sustainable in a multitude of ways - from long-range plans to our day-to-day operations. This includes designing highways that work best for communities, integrating transit, bicycling and walking into projects and employing techniques that reduce storm water pollutants. Our maintenance crews use precision snow and ice removal techniques that keep drivers safe while using the minimum amount of salt necessary.

Technology
New technology and innovative methods at WSDOT provide a more reliable, responsible and sustainable transportation system. We are taking steps to conserve fuel and energy, reduce carbon emissions, and protect our natural environment while keeping people and goods moving.

Efficiency
WSDOT is making highways more efficient by smoothing traffic flow through our busiest choke points. We're using fewer building materials by recycling and extending the lifespan of roads, bridges and other structures.

Reducing the carbon footprint
This approach helps citizens and businesses reduce their carbon footprint in new ways, from expanding transit services and ridesharing opportunities to partnering to build support infrastructure along I-5 for electric and other alternative-fuel vehicles.

For more information
Seth Stark - WSDOT Sustainable Transportation Manager 
360-705-7913
Seth.stark@wsdot.wa.gov

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