Decisions made at the local level can have a significant impact on emissions in the transportation sector.
In an article in Governing, Laurie Mazur describes how some U.S. cities are successfully cutting transportation emissions and the lessons they can teach other cities.
Mazur points out the ways that local governments can impact transportation emissions. “It is municipalities, for example, that determine the location of jobs and housing, and therefore the length of commutes, through zoning laws and other land-use regulations. Longer, more-car-dependent commutes mean more climate-changing emissions.”
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) 2024 City Clean Energy Scorecard reveals that 31 of 75 cities studied have targeted emissions reduction goals. Of these, “San Francisco took the top spot in the ACEEE scorecard for transportation, winning points for its excellent transit service, bike network and numerous EV charging stations. The city’s transit agency and central school district are also working to electrify their bus fleets.”
Other top cities include Portland, Oregon, and Oakland, California, both of which have made concerted efforts to promote affordable housing production near transit.
The report highlights the tools that seem to lead to success: making plans and setting targets; zoning changes that seek to reverse sprawl and improve walkability; investment in alternative transportation options; adoption of more efficient vehicles in city fleets and city-sponsored rebates for e-bikes and electric cars; and more efficient freight systems.
FULL STORY: Some Cities Are Actually Cutting Transportation Emissions. Here’s How.
The Path to Hyperdensity
The federal government has an opportunity to make a generational investment in the country's infrastructure that could fundamentally shift the way we live and move around cities.
To Fight Climate Change, Support Public Transit
Electric cars may garner a lot of attention these days, but significantly reducing carbon emissions and urban congestion means investing in high-quality mass transit.
Report: 14 States Increased Per-Capita Carbon Emissions
Many of the states on the list are red-leaning states that fought against federal environmental reporting regulations.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research