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Sustainable Mass Transit

Book Companion

Sustainable Mass Transit

Edition 2

Welcome to the Companion site for Sustainable Mass Transit: Challenges and Opportunities in Urban Public Transportation, 2nd Edition.

Mass transit is the very best sustainable solution that a city, state, town, or village can implement to reduce greenhouse gases and toxic emissions mostly as the result of fossil fuel using vehicles. Mass transit has its own carbon footprint and there are many methods, practices and engineering solutions that can and have reduced mass transit’s carbon footprint over the last two plus decades. The purpose of the Home Page is to inform the readers of “Sustainable Mass Transit – 2nd Edition” of the author’s background, experiences, and thought processes about the book, included detailed information that went into the text of each chapter.

In the opinion of the author, Thomas Abdallah, sustainability is an important topic of conversation now and forever. There are many sustainability solutions and alternatives to fossil fuel usage including renewable energy and efficiency that have been included in mass transit, but it is important to note that these solutions can be extrapolated into other industries including energy, agriculture, water, manufacturing, and other modes of transportation.

About this companion site

This site contains supplementary materials and other resources to accompany Sustainable Mass Transit: Challenges and Opportunities in Urban Public Transportation, 2nd Edition. Below are descriptions of the content available on this site. To access the content, please click the tabs in the navigation bar to the right.

  • Chapter by chapter commentary from Thomas Abdallah.

  • 100 Assessment of Learning questions on Sustainable Mass Transit, with answer key.

  • Media appearances with links to presentations made by Thomas Abdallah.

  • Sustainable Mass Transit Photographs of Thomas Abdallah in action.

About the Author

Thomas Abdallah, P.E. LEED AP, is Vice President Design Services and Chief Environmental Engineer for the New York City MTA’s Construction and Development (MTA C&D) agency. Thomas holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rutgers University. He is responsible for providing expert environmental engineering services for all MTA capital projects and has over 35 years of experience as an environmental engineer. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University in the Sustainability Management graduate program. He has appeared on Discovery Channel, PBS, NPR and appeared in an episode of History Channel’s Modern Marvels – Moving America.

Link to Thomas Abdallah’s LinkedIn Profile opens in new tab/window.

Media appearances

In the past two decades the Author has appeared in numerous media outlets including television, internet and podcast appearances.

ABC TV Interview

ABC TV Interview Author comment: This photo is of my first televised appearance on ABC News

Bridging Connections

Bridging Connections

Episode 5: Resiliency, Sustainability, & Equity opens in new tab/window

Author comment: In the Bridging Connections podcast I discussed the resiliency of New York City in the face of climate change.

Environmental Professionals Radio Podcast Mass Transit, Seizing Opportunities, and Teaching Sustainability

Environmental Professionals Radio Podcast opens in new tab/window

Author comment: The Environmental Professional Radio Podcast I discussed several aspects of my career in Sustainability and Environmental Engineering

Interview on Corona Shop Roof

Interview on Corona Shop Roof

Author comment: This is a photo of me being interviewed on the PBS Going Green NY program on the Roof of the Corona Maintenance Shop in Queens NY

NPR Interview

NPR Interview Author comment: This is a photo of me being interviewed for National Public Radio in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy

NPR Interview

NPR Interview Author comment: This is a photo of me being interviewed for National Public Radio in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy

PBS Going Green New York

PBS Going Green New York Author comment: These are photos me being interviewed for the PBS Going Green New York program on the roof of the 180th Street Crew Quarters facility in the Bronx New York.

PBS Going Green New York

PBS Going Green New York Author comment: These are photos me being interviewed for the PBS Going Green New York program on the roof of the 180th Street Crew Quarters facility in the Bronx New York.

PBS Going Green New York Author comment: These are photos me being interviewed for the PBS Going Green New York program at the Stillwell Terminal in Brooklyn New York City.

PBS Going Green New York Author comment: These are photos me being interviewed for the PBS Going Green New York program at the Stillwell Terminal in Brooklyn New York City.

PBS Going Green New York

PBS Going Green New York

Author comment: These are photos me being interviewed for the PBS Going Green New York program at the Stillwell Terminal in Brooklyn New York City.

PBS Going Green New York

PBS Going Green New York

Author comment: These are photos me being interviewed for the PBS Going Green New York program at the Stillwell Terminal in Brooklyn New York City.

PBS Going Green New York

PBS Going Green New York

Author comment: These are photos me being interviewed for the PBS Going Green New York program.

PBS Going Green New York

PBS Going Green New York

Author comment: These are photos me being interviewed for the PBS Going Green New York program.

Ukrainian TV Interview

Ukrainian TV Interview Author comment: This photo of me being interviewed by Ukrainian TV is at Stillwell Terminal in Brooklyn New York.

MTA What does a Chief Environmental Engineer Do? opens in new tab/window Author comment: This vignette is a short video my work at MTA and Columbia University.

The Sustainability Space: Sustainable Mass Transit opens in new tab/window Author comment: This interview was part of Columbia University's The Sustainability Space.

Stevens Institute of Technology Sustainability Seminar Series: Sustainable Mass Transit

Sustainable Mass Transit opens in new tab/window

Author comment: This video was filmed at Stevens Institute of Technology's as part of their Sustainability Seminars. The presentation is one of the many presentations I gave about the 1st Edition of the Sustainable Mass Transit.

Tom at Stevens 3

Tom at Stevens 3

Tom at Stevens 3

Tom at Stevens 3

Tom at Stevens 3

Tom at Stevens 3

Postcards From the Future: Sandy and New York City opens in new tab/window Author comment: This mini-documentary was filmed in the days after the impact of Superstorm Sandy on New York City.

The photographs are of the Author in action at various sites and teaching students about sustainable mass transit.

Electric Charging Stations

Electric Charging Stations - Bus Depot Electric charging Infrastructure

Electric Charging Stations

Electric Charging Stations - Charging an Electric Bus

Electric Charging Stations

Electric Charging Stations - Electric-Charging

Electric Charging Stations

Electric Charging Stations - Tom at Michael-J-Quill Bus Depot

Green Home NYC

Green Home NYC

Green Home NYC

Green Home NYC

International Society of Sustainability Professionals

International Society of Sustainability Professionals

Author comment: Discussing sustainable Mass Transit with the International Society of sustainability Professionals.

International Society of Sustainability Professionals

International Society of Sustainability Professionals

Author comment: Discussing sustainable Mass Transit with the International Society of sustainability Professionals.

International Society of Sustainability Professionals

International Society of Sustainability Professionals

Author comment: Discussing sustainable Mass Transit with the International Society of sustainability Professionals.

New York Build Expo

New York Build Expo

Author comment: Discussing Sustainable Mass Transit at NY Build at the Javits Center in New York City.

New York Build Expo

New York Build Expo

Author comment: Discussing Sustainable Mass Transit at NY Build at the Javits Center in New York City

The New York Academy of Sciences

The New York Academy of Sciences Author comment: Making a presentation at the New York Academy of Sciences in New York City.

Hofstra University

Hofstra University Author comment: Making a presentation at Hofstra University in Long Island.

The Cooper Union

The Cooper Union

Author comment: Teaching students at The Cooper Union in New York City.

The Cooper Union

The Cooper Union

Author comment: Teaching students at The Cooper Union in New York City

Essex Delancy Station

Essex Delancy Station

Author comment: Touring the Essex-Delancy Street Subway stations with young students.

Mother Clara Hale Bus Depot

Mother Clara Hale Bus Depot

Author comment: Making a presentation of the Mother Clara Hale Bus Depot prior to giving a tour of the depot with students.

Mother Clara Hale Bus Depot

Mother Clara Hale Bus Depot

Author comment: Touring the Mother Clara Hale Bus Depot with young students.

Mother Clara Hale Bus Depot

Mother Clara Hale Bus Depot

Author comment: Touring the Mother Clara Hale Bus Depot with young students.

Mother Clara Hale Bus Depot

Mother Clara Hale Bus Depot

Author comment: Touring the Mother Clara Hale Bus Depot with young students.

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