Fact #554: January 19, 2009
Energy Intensity of Light Rail Transit Systems
According to the 2007 National Transit Databases, the energy intensity of light transit rail systems in the U.S. ranges from about 2,000 Btu per passenger-mile to about 31,000 Btu per passenger-mile. There are only four light rail systems with energy intensity over 10,000 Btu per passenger-mile. These systems may have improved energy intensity in 2008 due to an increase in ridership (opens a window to American Public Transportation Association).
Energy Intensity of Light Rail Transit Systems, 2007
Supporting Information
| Place | Btu per Passenger Mile |
|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | 2,065 |
| Portland, OR | 2,387 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 2,614 |
| St. Louis, MO | 2,684 |
| Houston, TX | 2,896 |
| Boston, MA | 3,023 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 3,158 |
| Minneapolis, MN | 3,258 |
| Denver, CO | 3,829 |
| Dallas, TX | 4,433 |
| Sacramento, CA | 4,677 |
| San Francisco, CA | 4,843 |
| Seattle, WA | 4,981 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 5,193 |
| San Jose, CA | 5,316 |
| Newark, NJ | 5,378 |
| New Orleans, LA | 5,612 |
| Buffalo, NY | 5,733 |
| Cleveland, OH | 6,753 |
| Tampa, FL | 7,470 |
| Average of All Light Rail Systems | 7,605 |
| Baltimore, MD | 8,379 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 9,163 |
| North Little Rock, AR | 14,734 |
| Memphis, TN | 19,726 |
| Kenosha, WI | 28,422 |
| Galveston, TX | 31,013 |
|
Source: Calculated by Oak Ridge National Laboratory from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, Annual 2007 National Transit Databases. | |
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