Assessment and Control of Environmental Performance of Bus Transit Operators: Three Cases in a Mid-Sized City

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present and test a model for the assessment of the environmental performance of bus transit operators. The research method was the qualitative modeling. The model was constructed by experts in environmental management and transport management in a focus group session conducted by researchers. Environmental performance is the measurable results of the environmental management system (EMS) of a business activity, constructed according to the environmental policy of the company, its business objectives and environmental targets. Environmental performance was treated as an intangible variate, structured in latent constructs and indicators. From the assessment process results an overall index ranging between 0 and 100 %. Five constructs were used in the model: atmospheric emissions; effluents; solid waste; urban land use; and use of natural resources. The constructs were prioritized with the aid of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The meanings of the constructs were apprehended by 33 indicators. The model was tested in three bus transit operations in different areas of a Brazilian city of 1,500,000 inhabitants. Indicators were assessed by scales fulfilled by managers of the operations. The overall results were: operator A = 62.39 %; operator B = 68.02 %; and operator C =65.30 %. For the three operators, the construct that most contributed to the overall performance to stay away from 100 % was atmospheric emissions. In future actions, management of the companies should focus on the indicators that compose the construct, mainly greenhouse gas (GHG) and black smoke emissions, in order to control the variate and eventually improve the environmental performance. The second prioritization for the operators is land use, mainly damage on pavements and traffic congestion.