Transportation - Land Use - Climate
The way we get around makes a difference for our health and our environment. Transportation has overtaken the electricity generation sector to become the largest emitter and fastest growing sector of carbon emissions. Stormwater runoff from streets and parking lots pollute our watersheds. Poorly planned roads lead to sprawl impacting our farmlands and natural areas. Communities where residents can’t walk or bicycle safely have higher rates of chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer and heart disease. It’s time for an affordable, accessible, clean transportation system that supports healthy, vibrant neighborhoods. A system that provides everyone with equitable access to the places they need and want to go.
The transportation system we’ve been using for the last hundred years is really only good for one thing: people who have a car and can hop in that car and get where they need to go. For far too long we have been spending huge amounts of money on mega highways, adding more lanes, and building roads to boost an elected official’s status in his/her district. This is all at the cost of sound transportation planning and sufficient funding for transit. People who choose not to drive or aren’t able to drive cars are left with few options.
This system is bad on many levels – death and injuries from car crashes, pedestrian and bike fatalities, air pollution, climate change, and unsustainable community design. These negative impacts affect all of us, but they particularly hurt low income families and individuals and communities of color.
It’s time we help people see the full picture and connect transportation to land use and community design. When people live close to their daily destinations and have reliable, affordable transportation options, we will have a healthier population and curb emissions.
There are many ways to influence the decrease of GHG emissions and help to implement climate mitigation and adaptation; comprehensive planning, urban design, renewable energy goals, street design, transit policy - it’s all connected.
We know what we need to do...now let's work together to make real change.
