Take Action on Transportation
At over 40% of the state total, the transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Connecticut. Decreases in vehicle emissions can dramatically improve local air quality and community health.
Municipalities have a unique and powerful role in accelerating the clean transportation transition. Encouraging active transportation (e.g., bikes, walking), increasing access to public transportation, and supporting electric vehicles are all ways to move toward this goal.
Here are steps and tools to encourage action on transportation issues. There are two sections. The first contains resources that can help spur citizens to transition to clean transportation. The second focuses on changes to municipal operations.
Resources
General Resources
- For a clear description of Connecticut’s plans to transition to a low-carbon future, see the Governor’s Council on Climate Change report Building a Low Carbon Future for Connecticut, Transportation Sector, page 26.
- For a thorough analysis of a range of emission reduction strategies in the Northeast, consult Decarbonizing Transportation, by M.J. Bradley & Associates
- EV Club of CT – an excellent source of general EV information and details specific to Connecticut
Baseline Assessment
- This data request (.docx) specifies what to request from your town assessor in order to complete the transport section of the energy benchmarking exercise.
- A tool for analyzing local CO2 traffic emissions is available in this Database of Road Transportation Emissions (DARTE).
Bike and Pedestrian Friendliness
- U.S. Department of Transportation’s Complete Streets
- League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly Community
Promotion of Electric Vehicles (EVs)
- For up-to-date information on EVs in Connecticut, see the Connecticut Electric Vehicle Coalition website. The coalition is working on multiple fronts to promote EVs in the state.
- Plug-In Electric Vehicle Readiness Scorecard, administered by the U.S. Department of Energy.
- Use this helpful EV-Readiness Self-Assessment developed by Great Plains Institute to see how ready your town is for EVs.
- For a comprehensive assessment of a town’s EV-readiness, see the Municipal Electric Vehicle Readiness report for Fairfield, CT.
- If you are considering installing EV chargers in town, consult this Guide to Purchasing an EV Charging Station prepared by the Great Plains Institute and Clean Energy Resource Teams.
- For information on EV comparisons, incentives, maintenance, and more, visit Normal Now.
- EV Club of CT – Tesla Police Vehicle Study
Electric Buses
- Electric Buses in America: Lessons from Cities Pioneering Clean Transportation, 2019.
- The Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) has prepared some useful resources for promoting electric school buses.
Anti-Idling
- Did you know that idling for more than three minutes is against the law in CT?
- The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has compiled some helpful information on Anti-Idling Efforts in Connecticut.
- For more information, go to the Sustainable America’s website.
- Here’s a link to an anti-idling campaign flyer, courtesy of Wilton, CT.
