Decisions made at the local level can have a significant impact on emissions in the transportation sector.

In an article in Governing, Laurie Mazur describes how some U.S. cities are successfully cutting transportation emissions and the lessons they can teach other cities.
Mazur points out the ways that local governments can impact transportation emissions. “It is municipalities, for example, that determine the location of jobs and housing, and therefore the length of commutes, through zoning laws and other land-use regulations. Longer, more-car-dependent commutes mean more climate-changing emissions.”
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) 2024 City Clean Energy Scorecard reveals that 31 of 75 cities studied have targeted emissions reduction goals. Of these, “San Francisco took the top spot in the ACEEE scorecard for transportation, winning points for its excellent transit service, bike network and numerous EV charging stations. The city’s transit agency and central school district are also working to electrify their bus fleets.”
Other top cities include Portland, Oregon, and Oakland, California, both of which have made concerted efforts to promote affordable housing production near transit.
The report highlights the tools that seem to lead to success: making plans and setting targets; zoning changes that seek to reverse sprawl and improve walkability; investment in alternative transportation options; adoption of more efficient vehicles in city fleets and city-sponsored rebates for e-bikes and electric cars; and more efficient freight systems.
FULL STORY: Some Cities Are Actually Cutting Transportation Emissions. Here’s How.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie