Metro Unveils Its First Green Transit Facility, Transportation Agency’s Latest Eco-Friendly Project
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) today celebrated a major milestone in sustainable development with the opening of its first green building located in the hub of the San Gabriel Valley adjacent to the El Monte Transit Center.
The eco-friendly three-story 45,515-square-foot steel-frame building was built to meet the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver certification. The design objectives included protecting occupant health, improving employee productivity, and using energy, water and other resources more efficiently. The new structure surpasses the State of California’s already strict standards for building energy use by 25 percent and water consumption standards by 50 percent. The office consumes 33 percent less electricity than a conventional structure, saving Metro over $75,000 in utility costs annually.
The $13 million facility houses the Metro San Gabriel Valley Sector offices and transportation offices, with a field office for the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau. The transportation office replaces the existing Metro bus operations building and is the first one constructed in nearly 20 years and can accommodate a 50 percent growth in operations.