The California High Speed Rail Authority (Authority) announced this week that it has received a national award for its sustainability efforts. The Envision Platinum rating for the Authority was issued by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, a non-profit group founded by the American Public Works Association, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the American Council of Engineering Companies.
The Envision Platinum rating is the highest-level award from the Institute and represents the very first time it has been issued to a project as large and complex as this one.
The award was earned following an independent third party review of the Authority's performance related to 64 sustainability criteria, including materials, energy, water, environmental impacts, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, just to name a few.
“We are proud to have achieved Envision Platinum for the high-speed rail program. This recognizes the Authority’s progress on delivering a sustainable transportation system for California,” said Meg Cederoth, the Authority’s Director of Planning and Sustainability. “We’ve sought to reflect California’s sustainability ethic while laying the foundation for carbon-free travel. This recognition is a validation of the Authority’s ability to deliver sustainable infrastructure.”
“Sustainable infrastructure is a broad idea made very specific through the Envision verification process. This robust, third-party review of sustainability performance against 64 different issue areas illustrates how the California High-Speed Rail Authority is delivering on its commitment to provide current and future generations a system that protects and restores social, environmental and economic sustainability in its delivery and on into operation,” said Melissa Peneycad, Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure Managing Director.
