This document summarizes a presentation about strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector through improved land use and transportation policies. It discusses how transportation is a major source of emissions in New Jersey and how emissions are affected by vehicle efficiency, miles traveled, and land use patterns. The presentation recommends implementing strategies from the Global Warming Response Act such as doubling transit ridership, incorporating emissions targets into transportation funding, and providing incentives for dense, mixed-use development near transit. It also recommends shaping the upcoming GWRA 2050 report and state strategic plans to continue prioritizing sustainable development near transit and infrastructure investments in priority growth areas.

1. Transportation and Land Use Strategies
to Achieve Healthier Air Quality
Chris Sturm, Senior Director of State Policy, New Jersey Future
Clean Air Council 2012 Hearing
April 11, 2012

2. Smart Growth research, policy and
advocacy organization
Development that fuels prosperity, protects open lands, revitalizes
communities, keeps housing affordable, and provides transportation choices

3. Why are greenhouse gases a
transportation issue??

4. Transportation Sector is Dominant Source of Carbon Emissions
Total NJ Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2009
Note that carbon sequestration offsets 7.6% of the total

5. How are greenhouse-gas
emissions from transportation a
land-use issue??

6. Three Factors Affecting
Transportation Emissions
Transportation
CO 2

7. Total emissions =
low-emissions
vehicles,
emissions per gallon alternate fuels
x gallons per mile (i.e. the inverse of average
MPG) fuel efficiency
x total miles (VMT)
amount of travel
Or: total emissions = [emissions per mile] x [miles]

8. We are driving more in New Jersey

9. Shrinking VMT: The Five “D”s
Density * Diversity * Design
Distance to Transit * Distance to Destinations

10. Density: Put destinations
closer together

11. Population Density Makes a Difference

12. Density also makes transit more viable
Photo: Flygbussarna Airport Coaches
50 cars = 1 bus: sharing the ride cuts down on
emissions per capita

13. Diversity (or “mixed use”):
Put home, work, shopping
and school near each other

14. Design (i.e. “connectivity”) of the
street network:
More of this: And less of this:

15. Distance to transit:
NJ rail network
with population
density

16. Destination accessibility :
the distance to the central business district, or
the number of jobs/attractions reachable within a
given travel time
Tends to be highest at central locations and
lowest at peripheral ones.

17. Shrinking VMT: The Five D’s
Density * Diversity * Design
Distance to Transit * Distance to
Destinations
Global Warming
Response Act Reports
2020 & 2050
Transportation
Climate Initiative (TCI)
DCA, HMFA,
DEP DOT BPU EDA
etc….
State Strategic Plan

18. Recommendation #2
Implement GWRA 2020 Recommendations
for Transportation & Land Use
For example…
 Double transit ridership by 2050
 Incorporate GHG targets into transportation spending
 Assess infrastructure needs in transit hubs
 Help municipalities:
• Offer incentives & standards for better zoning
• Support Sustainable Jersey program
• Improve planning tools: noncontiguous cluster,
TDR, etc.
 Implement State Plan
• DEP: prioritize permits for “green” projects

19. Recommendation #3
Shape GWRA 2050 Report
Release is expected this spring…
The Clean Air Council should seek:
 An action-oriented approach
 Recommendations that build on the 2020 report
 Incorporating work of Transportation Climate Initiative:
 Using indicators to measure progress
 Focusing infrastructure spending in sustainable
communities

20. Recommendation #3
Shape State Strategic Plan “Agency Strategic Plans”
To be developed this summer; public comment in the
fall…
The Clean Air Council should seek:
 Actions from the 2020 GWRA Report
 DEP: Fund land preservation
 DEP: Prioritize infrastructure upgrades, clean-ups,
permitting in Priority Growth Areas
 DOT: fund “Complete Streets”
 EDA: Focus incentives near transit and downtowns
 Reauthorize and expand the Urban Transit Hub Tax
Credit program
 Reward towns that do good planning with best funding

21. www.njfuture.org
Chris Sturm, csturm@njfuture.org