New Report Highlights Wide Availability of Advanced Clean Transportation Solutions

States and Cities Can Use “Toolkit” as a Blueprint for Action to Reduce Pollution

October 17, 2018
Sharyn Stein, 202-572-3396, sstein@edf.org

(Washington, D.C. – October 17, 2018) A new report released today, the Toolkit for Advanced Transportation Policies, details the wide range of transportation policy opportunities that state and local governments can implement to reduce climate pollution and many other airborne contaminants in order to provide cleaner, healthier air for all Americans.

“Cities and states are charging ahead to a clean transportation future,” said Environmental Defense Fund president Fred Krupp. “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.”

The report, by energy consulting firm MJ Bradley & Associates, was commissioned by Environmental Defense Fund. It highlights a wide range of policies that are available now to reduce transportation pollution while supporting economic development and other goals.

In the report’s foreword, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner highlights that “cities 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.”

The transportation sector is now America’s largest source of the pollution that causes climate change, as well as a major source of other unhealthy air pollution. Thoughtful transportation policy is a key opportunity for state and local governments to support smart growth, reduce congestion, improve safety, support economic development, and protect Americans from unhealthy pollution.

Last month, senior government officials at the Global Climate Action Summit announced existing commitments that will ensure America continues to make substantial progress toward fulfilling its Paris Agreement pledge. This Toolkit outlines the many concrete policies and initiatives that states and cities can apply to turn their commitments into action by substantially reducing transportation sector pollution. 

The Toolkit includes dozens of policy options and case studies, as well as detailed discussion of key legal and policy issues. It’s available online through this interactive website or as a stand-alone comprehensive report.

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