Transportation
In 2019, the transportation sector was the largest source of greenhouse gas pollution and accounted for 29% of the total U.S greenhouse gas emissions. Urban areas are disproportionately affected by greenhouse gas pollution from transportation and suffer greater impacts from lower air quality and the devastating effects of the climate crisis. The Council works to ensure that all planning and transportation decisions take into account public health and the environment, public education, and advocacy to promote the use of alternatives to private cars, and especially single occupancy vehicle trips.
The Council’s transportation program advocates for reliable and equitable public transportation, shapes coalitions that work directly with Environmental Justice communities to meet their mobility needs, works to create safe infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians in every neighborhood, and ensures community members and advocates have an equal voice in planning major capital projects including regional trails like Cobbs Creek Trail in West and Southwest Philadelphia.
Transportation associated problems extend beyond mobile source air pollution and its health effects. Fossil fuel consumption, greenhouse gas reduction, land use impacts, and sprawl are all related to the Council’s transportation work. All of the Council’s transportation projects promote sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel powered cars, and use various methods to make switching to walking, biking, or public transit easy.
Single occupancy vehicle trips are the number one cause of traffic congestion, and cars idling in traffic drastically lowers air quality. Changing a daily commute from a car to walking, biking, public transit, or a combination of these modes is a small change with a big impact on the air we all breathe. Clean Air Council offers resources for employees and their employers to benefit from choosing sustainable transportation over single occupancy vehicle trips.
Equitable public transportation is the foundation of healthy cities and the Council’s transportation team advocates for reliable and frequent service, modern vehicles, and accessible, safe, and clean public transit that connects every neighborhood in the Philadelphia region. The Council also operates GoPhillyGo, a multimodal trip planning website, that makes combining walking and cycling with public transportation easy.
Walking is the least expensive and most sustainable mode of transportation. The Council believes everyone has a fundamental right to walk and roll safely in their neighborhood, to work, and for other transportation trips like healthcare, essential businesses, and parks. The transportation team also advocates for better bicycle infrastructure including protected bike lanes, multi-use trails, and more bike racks along business corridors and throughout Philadelphia.
Electric vehicles produce significantly fewer carbon emissions, but they also create almost no local air pollution where the vehicle travels. The Council supports prioritizing the expansion of electric vehicles, particularly trucks and buses, in communities hardest hit by the harmful effects of air pollution. SEPTA is just beginning to introduce electric battery powered buses into its fleet, and the Council advocates for all buses to be converted in the coming years. The Council also advocates for policies that make personal electric vehicles easier to own, including making them cheaper, more widely available, and increasing charging infrastructure.
