Rachel Healy, Director of Sustainability, Discusses How Sustainability Has Advanced at Metro Over the Last Decade

The birth of the environmental movement can be traced back to April 22, 1970, a day the world celebrates as “Earth Day.” The 22nd of April was chosen with student participation in mind, as it fell between spring break and final exams. At the time, there was no Environmental Protection Agency, no Clean Air Act, and no Clean Water Act. There were no legal or regulatory systems in place to protect the environment. And we certainly didn’t have social media as a platform for influencers like Greta Thunberg to urge us to save the planet.

Yet for over 50 years, when the calendar day transitions from March 31 to April 1, the world pauses to tell practical jokes before quickly shifting gears to focus on serious economic issues like climate change, renewable energy, pollution, and recycling. Organizations and individuals across the globe use the month to highlight plans to make their world “green,” in the near future and for future generations.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is no different. Today Metro provides the DC region with a sustainable transportation system, but the transit agency owes a debt of gratitude to dedicated employee Rachel Healy, who initially walked into the organization seeking information for a case study, and walked out with a job offer to build Metro’s Office of Sustainability.

She couldn’t refuse the opportunity to make positive change and bring her years of education to the role, including an ABD (PhD)in Environmental Policy from MIT and a Master’s in Urban Planning (MUP) from Columbia. Her qualifications also include four years in Planning Analysis and Research at MTA New York City Transit (where she was promoted three times), followed by six years at MIT working as a Sustainable Infrastructure Specialist in Urban Studies and Planning.

Rachel began her career at Metro as Principal Sustainability Advisor and has since spent over a decade reframing how we think about the organization and its contributions to the region, which is much more than moving people from place to place. Her devotion is undeniable, as she explains public transit is the largest impact investment that can be made in terms of combating climate change. “By supporting viable alternatives to the automobile, transit supports dynamic and healthy communities for all of us.”

She currently leads the department she helped create and works with regional partners to increase awareness of transit’s role in sustainability. For example, Washington, DC has a goal to achieve carbon neutrality (net-zero emissions) by 2050. Public transit is an essential partner in reaching that goal by providing an alternative to automobiles and by decarbonizing transit service.

In 2014, Rachel created the Sustainability Lab to test and evaluate new technology and business practices, followed by the Sustainability Awards to recognize impactful projects and the employees who go above and beyond to solve problems that bring positive and sustainable outcomes to the organization and region. In 2021, the Environmental Impact Award went to Edi Ortega, part of Metro’s Engineering team, for designing an innovative solution for electricity generation for the Platform Improvement Program construction. In 2022, Metro will recognize 27 employees for advancing sustainability, innovation, and equity into their work.

She is extremely proud of Metro’s strategy to transition to a 100% zero-emission bus fleet by 2045. The public should be equally pleased, since these new buses will improve quality of life across the region by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing noise for communities along bus routes, and by providing customers with a quieter ride. These enhanced vehicles are “clean” (diesel-free) and don’t produce harmful emissions into the air – so you can breathe easier on the street as a pedestrian or cyclist as the buses drive by.

Metro is also leveraging its real estate portfolio to deliver renewable energy to local communities through an innovative and community-oriented solar carport project, which Rachel refers to as a win-win. In 2021, Metro issued certified climate bonds, a recognition of the value Metro brings to the region, as the bonds support planned capital investments in clean energy, energy efficiency, and climate resiliency.

As she thinks about the future and how Metro will continue serving the community, Rachel emphasizes that even in a post-Covid world, regardless of remote-working, people will always want to live in dynamic, urbanized communities with easily accessible transportation. People will always want to be in close proximity to other people, places, and things they care about. Metro provides an essential and efficient transportation option for residents and visitors in the DMV and will continue to adapt to what the region needs. “Sustainability is not just central to the service we provide but how we provide it.”

At the end of the day, Rachel recognizes that Metro has come a long way towards providing inherently sustainable service. Her team continues to advance a culture of environmental stewardship with leadership across the organization joining together to facilitate change and green overall operations. Looking back at how the conversation surrounding sustainability has changed drastically over the years, she ponders, “I’d like to think I had some part in that.”

Read about Metro’s recent Sustainability Initiatives here.