In 2011, MTD embarked upon creation of an Environmental and Sustainability Management System (ESMS). The EMS Institute at Virginia Tech University defines an environmental management system as "a set of management processes and procedures that allows an organization to analyze, control and reduce the environmental impact of its activities, products and services and operate with greater efficiency and control. An EMS is appropriate for all kinds of organizations of varying sizes in public and private sectors."

The basic elements of an EMS include:
MTD adopted a formal Environmental Policy at its March 30, 2011 Board of Trustees meeting. This policy codifies the current and ongoing activities to which MTD commits to continuously reduce the environmental impact of our actions on the community and environment. Throughout 2011, MTD staff will participate in workshops at Virginia Tech University to create objectives and targets to control the environmental impact of MTD activities. These controls will guide ongoing and future MTD activities.

All MTD buses use government regulated ultra low sulfur fuel and use a percent of soybean biodiesel fuel in each tank.

Each driver follows our Idling Procedure. The purpose of this procedure is to protect public health and improve the environment by reducing noise and emissions while conserving fuel. Less idling time reduces wear and tear on engines, lengthens engine life, saves money and contributes to a cleaner, quieter environment. Thanks to research by University of Illinois’ Associate Professor Xinlei Wang, MTD uses Diesel Particulate Filters to successfully remove diesel particulate matter or soot from the exhaust gas of a diesel engine before it can enter the air.

Green Cleaning Chemicals are used in all MTD facilities. At Illinois Terminal, the chemicals in cleaning products are mixed by an in-house machine that finds the best balance. The resulting mixture is not only more environmentally friendly but creates a more efficient cleaning product that is more affordable.

Waste Oil is used to heat bus garages and the maintenance shop during the winter.

A "Stinger System" is used to raise the air pressure on buses while they are not in use. Air pressure is necessary to maintain the air brakes, driver controls, and to kneel the busses. The benefit of the Stinger System is that engine idle time is reduced at start-up because air pressure is already at safe, operating levels.

Administrative offices are equipped with recycling bins for paper, cardboard, batteries, ink cartridges, toner, and wireless phones. The Maintenance Department Division collects and recycles Freon, antifreeze and scrap metal.

Lights/Monitors are dimmed and/or turned off manually or by motion detectors when not in use. Building staff has fine-tuned heating/air condition practices to reduce energy usage. Heating Venting and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Filters are reusable electrostatic filters that are used in MTD facilities instead of standard filters and require fewer replacements.

MTD received a grant to install 10 solar power systems for campus bus shelters to run lights and information signs.

Internal Communications encourage employees to exercise sustainable behaviors. An article is included in the monthly internal newsletter on the topic of sustainability. A sustainability committee meets once a month to brainstorm and implement Earth-positive projects.

Two bus simulators for training were purchased in 2009 and installed in 2010 to train and test drivers. This decreases the amount of training time on the road, which also means reduced fuel consumption, emissions, traffic, and wear and tear on the buses and roads.

Reducing energy consumption and emissions does the following: Sustainability is about practices that make good business sense and good environmental sense. It is balancing the economic, social, and environmental needs of a community. For public transportation, this means:

MTD service is focused on providing high frequency service that connects downtown Champaign, the University of Illinois campus, and downtown Urbana. Hopper routes offer 10-15 minute frequency for the core portion, most travelled corridor, of their parent route. This service was added to four routes based on service demand.

Zipcar, an international car-sharing program, has landed in the C-U area. MTD was one of the lead agencies to bring the car share program to Champaign, Urbana, and the university community. Other agencies include the City of Champaign, City of Urbana, and the University of Illinois.

MTD is working to create mode choice in our community with miPLAN: Mobility Implementation Plan. miPlan markets and plans modes of transportation choices in the community. The purpose is to find what mobility options Champaign, Urbana and Savoy want and need as a community, both now and in the future, then crafts a plan to bring those options to fruition.

As Chair of the Campus Area Transportation Study (CATS), MTD provides resources and staff to support community transportation projects such as: MTD sponsors workshops and webinars for municipal employees, city planners, and other local engineers. Topics range from Global Warming 101 to Emerging Trends in Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities. MTD also helps organize and sponsor Bike Safety Training Workshops conducted by the League of Illinois Bicyclists.

The premier inter-modal facility of downstate Illinois placed recycling receptacles on each floor of the building to make green living, easy living. Renewable Furnishings are used in Illinois Terminal as replacement and repair takes place. These include cork flooring, carpeting made of recycled materials and wallpapers made of recycled materials. Illinois Terminal is researching "LED retrofit" lights, which have no mercury, a longer life span, draw less energy, and are completely recyclable.

Pursuing LEED EB Certification of Illinois Terminal by becoming a member of the United States Green Building Council.

The APTA Sustainability Pilot Program calls on APTA members to commit to a set of sustainable actions to enforce in a given period of time. Participants must conform to processes and meet consumption reduction goals. Sustainability is defined within the commitment as having environmental, social, and economic components. It can be defined by preserving the environment for current and future generations, being socially responsible and maintaining economic viability.

The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District signed an agreement to participate in APTA’s 2009 Pilot Phase Sustainability Commitment in January 2009. As a signatory organization, the CUMTD agreed to adhere to the following base principles within one year: CUMTD applied for the Bronze Level, which included achieving six action items and establishing reduction targets of two percent over baseline within one year. The APTA Sustainability Commitment requires a progress report of steps taken to achieve the base principles as well as a more detailed assessment of steps being taken to meet the Bronze Status Level requirements.