{"id":19041,"date":"2018-10-17T13:57:04","date_gmt":"2018-10-17T18:57:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/?p=19041"},"modified":"2018-10-17T13:57:47","modified_gmt":"2018-10-17T18:57:47","slug":"cities-and-states-are-charging-ahead-towards-a-clean-transportation-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/2018\/10\/17\/cities-and-states-are-charging-ahead-towards-a-clean-transportation-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Cities and states are charging ahead towards a clean transportation future"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"At the state and local level, communities are pressing ahead on clean transportation solutions\u2014never mind that the Trump administration is stuck in reverse.<\/p>\n

A new resource released today helps these communities turn their aspirations into action. The Toolkit for Advanced Transportation Policies<\/a> details the wide range of transportation policy opportunities that state and local governments can implement to reduce pollution \u2014 thus providing cleaner, healthier air for local residents and reducing dangerous climate change while supporting economic development.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The report, by energy consulting firm MJ Bradley & Associates, was commissioned by EDF.<\/p>\n

As EDF president Fred Krupp said today<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cCities and states are charging ahead to a clean transportation future. This report provides a blueprint for action. It can help turn commitments into tangible reductions in harmful air pollution, which will mean healthier communities for our families.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clean transportation is essential for healthy air and a secure climate<\/strong><\/p>\n

The transportation sector is now America\u2019s largest source of the pollution that causes climate change, as well as a major source of other unhealthy air pollution.<\/p>\n

Climate pollution from the transportation sector is continuing to increase. However, new innovations offer tremendous opportunity to dramatically reduce pollution from cars and trucks.<\/p>\n

Thoughtful transportation policy is a key way for state and local governments to seize these new opportunities \u2014 offering the potential to support smart growth, reduce congestion, improve safety, and support economic development, while at the same time protecting Americans from unhealthy pollution.<\/p>\n

In the foreward of today\u2019s report<\/a>, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner says:<\/p>\n

\u201cCities and states have an enormous opportunity right now to support cleaner and smarter transportation networks. This toolkit is designed to help seize those opportunities and put the best technologies to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cities and states are committed to further progress<\/strong><\/p>\n

The City of Houston is just one jurisdiction focused on addressing pollution. The city has initiated an innovative, block-by-block air pollution monitoring program<\/a>, using pollution sensors on its municipal fleet to document air pollution burdens from cars and trucks.<\/p>\n

Last month, other senior city and state officials at the Global Climate Action Summit also announced existing commitments that will ensure America continues to make substantial progress toward fulfilling its Paris Agreement pledge.<\/p>\n

This new Toolkit<\/a>, which also has an interactive website<\/a>, outlines dozens of concrete policies and initiatives that states and cities can use to take action, protect their residents, and make concrete progress in reducing transportation sector pollution.<\/p>\n

The report highlights three general categories of policy options:<\/p>\n