FOLLOWING an independent audit, Merseytravel has retained international approval for its environmental policies with continued certification of ISO 14001 – the international standard for Environmental Management Systems.

The first Passenger Transport Authority to gain certification five years ago, Merseytravel had to demonstrate its work to limit environmental impact, provide appropriate staff training, comply with legislation and deliver continual environmental improvement.

Merseytravel’s chief executive and director general Neil Scales said: “We have driven the national passenger transport agenda on environment issues since we became the first passenger transport body in the country to produce an environmental strategy 12 years ago, and sustainability remains a vital element of our future transport plans.”

As an example, the PTA has commissioned the Building Research Establishment to produce a customised Environmental Assessment Methodology rating for its new Pier Head ferry terminal building.

The contractor has signed up to the Considerate Constructors Scheme which requires monitoring, reporting and setting of targets for carbon dioxide production and energy use from site activities, water consumption monitoring, sorting and recycling construction waste and adoption of best practice regarding dust.

When completed, the terminal will be compatible with its surroundings and will incorporate a large proportion of recycled building materials. It will also use a rainwater harvesting system and variable speed heating to reduce carbon emissions.

Merseytravel’s multi award-winning Liverpool South Parkway interchange, described in last month’s Railnews, is another example featuring pioneering environmental features at the heart of major infrastructure planning.