Every year, Metrolink reduces greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 130,000 metric tons.
Metrolink has worked with its Member Agencies, the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and regulatory partners including the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) for funding support of the 40 new Tier 4 locomotives. The certificate is a requirement to receive previously awarded grant funding from SCAQMD.
The total project cost of $280 million was largely funded from the SCAQMD through the Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program, which granted funding of $110 million. Additional funds were provided by state ($132 million), federal ($21 million) and local ($17 million) sources.
Metrolink currently has 37 of the planned 40 Tier 4 locomotives operating in its fleet, with the final three scheduled to be placed in service this fall.
Tier 4 locomotives reduce emissions between 65% and 85% compared to Tier 2 and Tier 0 locomotives, respectively, which previously were in Metrolink’s original fleet. The last of Metrolink’s 38 Tier 0 locomotives was removed from service earlier this year.
As part of the CARB Tier 4 Verification Certificate testing, sensors capable of detecting precise levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx), the primary factor to smog, and particulate matter, which leads to soot, were mounted over the locomotive’s exhaust stack to record emissions.
Metrolink is Southern California’s commuter rail service enabling people to connect to their jobs and explore all that the region has to offer. Every year, Metrolink has nearly 12 million boardings from people who choose to ride the train to avoid gridlock, removing an estimated 9.3 million vehicles from the roads and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 130,000 metric tons. Metrolink is the largest commuter rail agency in California and the third largest in the United States operating seven lines along a 538-mile network that travels across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.
