Of 35 recommendations presented in the state’s climate scoping plan, just one has been implemented so far.

The suspended congestion pricing plan that would have charged drivers entering parts of New York City is just one of the climate policies the state has backpedaled on in recent months, writes Colin Kinniburgh in a piece for New York Focus.
The Department of Environmental Conservation has not required certain trucks to be zero-emissions. The Department of State has not updated the manuals that cities use for street design. And the state legislature has not taken any of the actions that the scoping plan pushed it to. Most haven’t even been introduced as legislation.
The state’s climate scoping plan “recommends ‘historic investments’ to expand public transit and promote ‘smart growth,’ a form of urban planning that revolves around dense, walkable city centers.” Yet of the 35 policy recommendations laid out in the plan, just one has been completed. “Just over half have seen some signs of progress, ranging from lawmakers introducing (but not passing) bills to agencies administering small grants.”
While the state has made some progress on electrification in the transportation sector, little has been done to reduce overall driving, which the plan admits is crucial to achieving a net-zero future. “Modeling by the clean energy research group RMI found that a 20 percent reduction in driving would not only shave emissions, but also save the lives of thousands of New Yorkers each year by reducing crashes, improving air quality, and promoting exercise.”
FULL STORY: New York Idles on Green Transportation Plan

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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