To reduce transportation emissions, make it realistic for people to ditch cars

Building communities that are easy to walk in and have access to public transportation is important for reducing our reliance on cars. This will help us achieve environmental goals.

Public transportation is a big part of the United States' carbon emissions. We need to expand public transit so that it is more modern, efficient, and reliable. However, many people don't have a choice but to drive. We need to build communities that are easy to walk in with good public transportation options so that people can drive less.

Many cities are trying to make it easier for people to get around without using a car. This is done by developing residential areas near public transportation. This makes it easy for people to do things like pick up groceries or drop their kids off at school without having to drive.

This is a difficult task for many people today. The average American commute is more than 10 miles long. That's why it's important that we have supportive city zoning laws and urban development initiatives. They make it easier for people to use public transit, which helps us reach our environmental goals.

Heavy traffic is bad for the environment and it is difficult for drivers to get around in stopped traffic. It is also dangerous for pedestrians who have to walk in areas that were not built for them. That is why walkability and bikeability will be important parts of developing areas that are focused on public transportation. We are already seeing this approach play out across the globe.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many cities have been looking into ways to reduce car traffic. This can be done by expanding bike lanes and sidewalks, and by enabling pedestrian commerce. Making it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to access mass transit stations will also amplify emissions reduction benefits and make cities more vibrant.

More and more cities in the U.S. are recognizing how developing around transit hubs can help create new jobs and housing. Last month, Washington D.C.'s transit agency released a plan to speed up development around transit hubs, with the goal of creating 26,000 new housing units and 31 million square feet of new development over the next decade.

Transit-oriented development can help reduce emissions and make cities greener. In the U.S., a lot of land is used for parking lots, but if we develop communities with transit in mind, we won't need as much parking. This land can be used for other things, like community green space, small business storefronts, or affordable housing. Public transit also reduces the need for road expansions and never-ending road construction.

Transit-oriented development is good for the climate and for underserved communities. When gas prices go up, the most vulnerable people get hurt the most. But with modern public transit, people can have a more affordable, reliable, and accessible way to get around that supports their needs. This can help reduce our dependence on cars and oil.

People who used to rely on cars to get around now have access to quality public transit. This makes it easier for them to get to jobs and other important places.

If we do not focus on public transit when planning for development, we may end up with transit systems that don't work for the people who need them most. Even though there was a large investment in public transit in the bipartisan infrastructure law, transit-oriented development is still not a priority for many people.

This disconnect was abundantly clear at the COP26 conference last year in Glasgow, Scotland, where authorities in attendance spent significant time focusing on making personal vehicles cleaner – attention that could have gone toward removing the barriers that make driving necessary for so many people in the first place.

Addressing the climate crisis requires a full examination of transit’s role in development, not just a patchwork solution that fails to address the underlying causes of transportation emissions. The need for change is urgent: the latest United Nations climate report warns us that we only have a short time to make changes to secure a livable and sustainable future for all. If we want to tackle the climate crisis, it is time to implement transit-oriented development across the country.