The Niagara Frontier Transportation
Authority showed off its green side this past week at the 5th Annual UB
Sustainable Living Fair held at the University at Buffalo's North Campus.
The NFTA was one of over 40 area
organizations involved in the event designed to raise awareness of
environmental stewardship and teach ways for individuals to reduce their own
personal environmental footprints.
"The fair is a great way for
members of the UB community -- including students who are here from all across
the globe -- to learn about their roles in maintaining a more sustainable
environment," said Jim Simon, Sustainability Engagement Coordinator with
UB's Office of Sustainability.
NFTA employees -- including NFTA
Environmental Engineer Mary Padasak -- were on hand to remind fairgoers that
using Metro is an easy and effective means for helping the environment.
"Public transportation is the
backbone to sustainable living in urban areas like Buffalo," said Padasak. "People who ride Metro Bus and Rail are
helping to lower pollution, take cars off the road and reduce carbon
footprints."
The NFTA also promoted its own
ongoing green initiatives, including the recent introduction of its fleet of
over 50 hybrid buses and the installation of energy-efficient solar panels at
the Frontier bus garage.
UB Freshman Anita Levine was one of
approximately 1,500 fairgoers in attendance. She said she was impressed with
the various ways local organizations are working toward a cleaner planet.
"I'm currently an undecided
major, but I've taken classes on the environment and am considering
environmental engineering as a career," Levine said. "It's interesting for me to see all the things
these companies are doing to have a positive impact on the environment. I'm hoping to someday take a few of these
ideas and perhaps use them in my own work."
The NFTA joined several vendors
including National Fuel, National Grid and the New York Power Authority in
providing attendees with a wealth of free gift bags and other promotional
items. Fairgoers who stopped by the NFTA
table inside the student union were entered to win a gift basket, which
included a voucher for a free monthly Metro pass (congratulations to our lucky
winner, Joanne Martin.)
