Invest in Transportation Systems that Modernize Infrastructure, Expand Access and Mobility for All People in a community, Improve Public Health and safety, and Boost local Economies.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, offers U.S. states and cities the chance to invest in transportation systems that modernize infrastructure, expand access and mobility for all people in a community, improve public health and safety, and boost local economies. For Vibrant US Cities, Invest in Multi-modal Transportation WRI June 21, 2022 By Liz Bridgwater, Sujata Rajpurohit, Kevin Kennedy and Matt HerbertTransportation emits more climate-warming greenhouse gases than any other sector in the United States, so cutting carbon from transport is also essential to achieving the ambitious goal of reducing emissions 50%-52% by 2030.Recent modeling from America Is All In, a coalition of state and local climate leaders, shows that emissions reductions in the transportation sector can contribute more than one-third of what’s needed to reach the 2030 U.S. climate goal. The key is to go multi-modal: not just cars, buses, rail, bicycles or walking, but a coordinated system of various modes of transportation. States, tribes, cities, universities and businesses have vital roles to play in developing clean multi-modal transportation systems that work for the entire community while fostering health, safety and economic prosperity. Now, a new paper shows how communities can benefit from the low-carbon multi-modal approach.
Why Multi-modal Transport Is a Good Investment for Cities.....Clean multi-modal systems can provide safe, equitable, comfortable, convenient, accessible transportation, including mass transit, walking, biking, micromobility (such as electric scooters and bikes and shared bicycles) along with car use. Most U.S. cities depend on cars to get around and design their communities accordingly. But that sidelines and endangers the roughly 20% - 40% of residentsin a given community who either can’t or shouldn’t drive, due to factors such as economic limitations, age constraints and disabilities. America’s underfunded public transit systems are frequently unreliable, time-consuming and unpleasant to ride, making it difficult and inefficient for people to reach jobs or other necessary destinations. Car-dependency imposes serious risk to non-drivers, as needing to walk or bike on roads designed for cars all-too-often causes injuries and deaths. Expanded multi-modal transportation options make roads safer for all travelers and increase access to economic opportunity, getting non-drivers to jobs, businesses and other locations that are virtually out of reach without a car. In addition to addressing the inequities of car dependency, multi-modal transportation can provide a suite of community health and livability benefits, including better air quality and reduced noise pollution, some of the largest environmental causes of health issues. Fewer cars on the road and improved road and vehicle design means fewer crashes for those inside and outside of vehicles. And active modes of transportation can improve physical and mental health by helping more Americans exercise.
Despite these benefits, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds might be used to further entrench car dependency. For example,highway expansions reinforce car dependency (and don’t even alleviate traffic) and perpetuate the unequal health and safety impacts of many car-centered systems. Importantly, if Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments are primarily directed towards expansion of America’s roads, funding could result in an increase in emissions instead of much-needed reductions. Alternatively, communities can choose to use Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to modernize transportation systems, improve equity, and reap a host of health, safety and economic benefits by building multi-modal transportation systems.
The 15-minute Communities Approach.......In denser urban areas, an important element of low-carbon multi-modal transportation systems is building so-called “15-minute communities,” where basic needs like good schools and fresh foods are within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. Past these basic needs, community members can reach more distant destinations with quality public transit accompanied by the necessary infrastructure to walk, bike or use micro-mobility options when getting to and from mass transit stations. In rural communities, walking and biking are often unfeasible and mass transit cannot operate frequently enough to reasonably meet transportation needs, so appropriate transportation systems in rural spaces will likely require personal vehicle use. To cut emissions and improve air quality, it will be necessary to shift usage of fossil-fueled vehicles in rural areas towards electric vehicles (EVs). Continued car use must be made safer with strategies like reducing vehicle speeds in high-risk areas and taking a Safe System approach, which places the responsibility for safe roads on transportation design. For rural residents who can’t drive, options like on-demand shuttles could expand mobility.
