Lower-income households often lack the resources to buy electric cars, signaling a need for a more holistic approach to improving mobility and lowering transportation costs.

A new report from the Transportation Energy Institute suggests that an equitable approach to transportation must include more than just a shift to electric cars. “The report also notes that lower-income communities often face multiple transportation-related environmental issues, such as proximity to highways and industrial pollution.”
As Dan Zukowski explains in Smart Cities Dive, “Access to electric vehicle charging equipment and the high cost of EVs limits low-income households’ ability to take advantage of these lower-emission vehicles, the paper says, and many depend on conventionally fueled vehicles.” Thus, lower-income communities need investment in public transit and other mobility options that can reduce their transportation costs and offer more sustainable options.
“Direct, meaningful engagement with such communities enables residents to have a say in the transportation policies and projects that could address their specific needs, [the report] says.” The report provides a set of questions that policymakers can use to better understand their communities’ needs and bridge gaps in access to transportation.
FULL STORY: Are EVs the best approach to transportation equity? Maybe not, TEI report says

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network
The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.

Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits
The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.

Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods
Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.
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