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New Brighton Climate Action Plan 2 -1 <br />Addressing the resilience of on- and off-road vehicles <br />and equipment while reducing their GHG emissions. <br />Transportation, causing 29% of the US's 2019 <br />greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, primarily from vehicles, <br />substantially affects climate change. The majority of <br />these emissions come from passenger vehicles and light <br />trucks. Transitioning to cleaner technologies, enhancing <br />public transit, and promoting active transportation could <br />drastically cut emissions. Furthermore, extreme weather, <br />induced by climate change, threatens transportation <br />infrastructure, leading to disruptions and community <br />resilience impacts. <br /> <br />Transportation and Land Use in New Brighton <br />In New Brighton, 42.1% of citywide GHG emissions <br />originate from the transportation and land use sector. <br />Despite projected Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) <br />increases, emissions could decrease with the shift from <br />fossil fuels to electricity in transportation and the <br />electricity sector's transition towards renewable sources. <br />Additionally, Lee & Lee's (2014) study indicates a 1% <br />increase in urban density can reduce household travel <br />CO2 emissions by 0.48% and residential energy use <br />emissions by 0.35%. With the Metropolitan Council <br />predicting a 2% population increase in New Brighton by <br />2030, such emissions reductions become increasingly <br />pertinent. <br /> <br />There are numerous strategies to enhance transportation <br />sustainability, quality of life, and equity. Promoting <br />shared transport and reducing single-occupancy vehicle <br />use can mitigate environmental impacts and boost <br />mobility equity. Alternative transport like bicycles, <br />eBikes, and scooters foster physical activity and decrease <br />air pollution. Furthermore, the combination of electric <br />vehicles which can be more easily “refueled” while <br />parked, car-sharing, and self-driving technologies are <br />anticipated to support a more sustainable car usage <br />future. In fact, MIT scientists have calculated the number <br />of vehicles on the road could decrease by 19%. <br />Climate Impacts <br />This sector impacts climate change through the <br />combustion of fossil fuels (gasoline, diesel, <br />propane) for on-road cars and trucks and off- <br />road vehicles and equipment. <br /> <br />Climate Hazards <br />Hazards to transportation and land use include <br />increased damage to roads and transportation <br />infrastructure due to increased freeze and thaw <br />cycles, fiooding, and extreme weather and <br />temperatures. <br />70% <br />of survey respondents <br />support changes in city <br />development rules to favor <br />walkable neighborhoods and <br />business districts. <br />Transportation and Land Use <br />Equity Considerations <br />Equitable transportation climate actions <br />distribute costs, benefits, and burdens fairly to <br />address climate change. Key equity <br />considerations include affordable and <br />sustainable transportation options, improved <br />public transit, bike lanes, and addressing <br />transportation gaps in marginalized areas. <br />Minimizing financial barriers through <br />incentives, subsidies, and financing supports <br />low-income individuals transitioning to low- <br />carbon transportation, while ensuring <br />retraining, job opportunities, and fair wages <br />for impacted workers in the green economy <br />transition. <br />Click here to <br />return to TOC