Olivia Drummond’s Post

It was great to see this continuing analysis of the impacts of the planning rule we adopted on the CDOT Transportation Commission in 2021. There is more work to be done, though, to improve our access to public transit opportunities, along with walkable and bikeable urban areas.

In a significant policy shift, Colorado Department of Transportation canceled major traffic-inducing highway expansion projects following the adoption of a greenhouse gas reduction rule. This decision reallocates $1 billion toward clean public transit and multimodal infrastructure, prioritizing communities in transportation planning, and ensuring better access and connectivity for all. More states now have the opportunity to follow Colorado's lead and forge a clean, new path ahead. According to RMI’s Benjamin Holland, the benefits of public transit investments — improved air quality, cost savings, and reduced crashes — suggest a potential national model for mitigating transportation emissions: https://nyti.ms/3yFTPv4 📰 The New York Times

Great that states can be recognized for the significant efforts being made in across the country. Glad that my homestate of #Vermont has been recognized but also several of the states that I have had the pleasure of working with on efforts to decarbonize and reduce #VMT while supporting a shift toward electrification. Some of my relevant minor contributions - Mass80x50, NYS Clean Transportation Roadmap, Oregon Transportation Plan, Burlington Net Zero Energy Plan, and a current effort for Mass EEA on DCFC planning. https://lnkd.in/eH5zKwBC

We need to be more like Colorado. Put greenhouse gas emissions caps on new highway building projects and re-direct funds from projects that would increase vmt (and hence emissions) and send them toward funding new transit routes and building bike lanes instead. #ClimateCrisis #ReduceTransportationEmissions #FundMultiModal

Transport is the culprit 🚘 🌿 Transportation plays a critical role in the U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for 29% of all sources in 2021. The US Government Accountability Office's study highlights that the nation's roads are the primary culprits. However, Arkansas aims for a $50M bicycle network expansion, while Montana considers emissions in its carbon reduction strategy. New proposed rules will mandate state DOTs and MPOs to track and reduce GHG emissions, supported by over $27B in federal funding. Join the conversation about reducing emissions at MOVE America 2023 here: https://lnkd.in/eraKG_k3 #ClimateAction #SustainableTransportation #GreenInfrastructure #EnvironmentalResponsibility MOVE: Mobility Re-imagined

Some key takeaways from our Reimagining Public Transit panel during ClimateCon! It's clear that Colorado's public transportation system could use some improvement, but we need funding to make a bigger impact. Thanks to our moderator Michael Washington and panelists Michael Davies with RTD, Josh Rands with TerraCity, and Peter Muller with the Advanced Transit Association for driving this important topic. Take a look at where Colorado currently stands in transit funding and consider advocating for new forms of automated transit networks. By taking TerraCity's survey ( tc-comet.web.app ), you can help provide insight into much-needed climate-related data. If you missed this session, don't worry - we'll have more topics like this at our next ClimateCon! in Boulder. Check out our YouTube channel to view more sessions from CSU Spur, including those featuring our panelists, which will be posted in the upcoming weeks. https://lnkd.in/gGJP4us6 Let's work together to drive climate action and resilience through public transportation. #climateaction #climateresilience #climatesolutions #publictransportation #publictransit #rtd #climateconference #reducecarbonfootprint #reduceemissions 

A new report by the Natural Resources Defense Council documents that despite statewide commitments to reduce vehicle miles traveled and mitigate climate change, Caltrans spends only 18% of funding on lower-carbon transportation (active transportation, transit, regional rail, etc). If California is serious about reducing reliance on private cars, the investment must match the commitment. The report details more trends in spending that run counter to the stated direction of the administration #activetransportation #followthemoney https://lnkd.in/ghuZgvDW

🚗🚍🚲 Vast may be the perfect word to describe Southern California’s transportation network. More than 116,000 miles of streets, freeways, bus routes, and bike lanes connect the region’s population of 19 million people across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, and Imperial counties. And with the population expected to increase by 2 million by 2050, forward-thinking planning around transportation systems and development can help cities prepare for the region’s future mobility needs. This Spring, the Southern California Association of Governments released the Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy known as Connect SoCal 2024. The Plan outlines a vision for the region’s transportation and land use planning to improve accessibility across multi-modal networks, reduce sprawl and congestion, lower emissions, increase transit-oriented development, and address environmental injustices. In coordination with SCAG staff, ESA concurrently prepared the associated Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR), an effort spanning over four years and involving collaboration with more than 190 jurisdictions. Principal Planner David Crook details how the Plan and PEIR set a vision for Southern California's transportation network, as well as its communities, economy, and environment for the next 25 years. Read all about it in our latest article: https://lnkd.in/g_sc-daT #TransportationPlanning #LandUsePlanning #SouthernCalifornia #Mobility #TransportationAccessibility #ConnectSoCal #RegionalTransportationPlan #SustainableCommunities

Highway expansions always result in more congestion and consequently increased carbon emissions. Thinking different, and planning with climate in mind can lead to innovative transport solutions for the future!

Most Southeast Louisiana blue-green economy stakeholders we interviewed connected water management to all types of public infrastructure. They envision that, going forward, traditional water, housing, and transportation infrastructure will intersect with water management and climate mitigation. For some, water management and climate resilience serve to protect the region’s critical economic infrastructure like roads, rails, and ports. Others view blue-green infrastructure as a “cohesive whole,” including finding ways to leverage funds to serve community and environmental needs through infrastructure and to avoid duplication and waste. These visions of the blue-green economy align with intentions at the state and federal level to link infrastructure investment with climate mitigation and adaptation. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Umy4Wl #Environment #Economy