Today marks the long awaited announcement from Philadelphia’s Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems, the release of Connect: Philadelphia’s Strategic Transportation Plan.
Connect is meant to guide the City in creating a transportation system that benefits everyone. A transportation system that is safe, affordable, accessible, and reliable at moving Philadelphians, visitors, and commerce so neighborhoods thrive, people are healthy, and the economy grows.
Though I’ve yet to read the plan, you can view the data book, download the executive summary, or the full plan, here.
electrification of all modes of transport
Later today, the newsfeed showed
- We’re Absolutely Screwed Unless We Switch to Electric Vehicles, referencing the recent IPCC report and the need to reduce emissions fast. A quote… “In cities where private vehicle ownership is expected to increase, less carbon-intensive fuel sources and reduced car journeys will be necessary as well as electrification of all modes of transport.” and another… “And it needs to start now.”
- And this from London: Cars set to be banned from half of roads in London’s Square Mile and speed limits slashed to 15mph
- Our state park system of 121 parks has plans to install electric car charging stations at 40 of the parks, see here: Pa. state parks to host electric car charging stations. Though unclear why only 40 parks to get these stations, “officials expect to complete the project that calls for stations capable of fully charging vehicles in 2.5 to 7 hours at every state park by 2020.” Let’s hope some of them are near Philadelphia.
When Paris banned cars with even-numbered plates for a day in 2014, pollution dropped by 30%. So last year, it led with plans to ban all petrol cars from the city by 2030 in pollution crackdown. Since then, it seems other cities have taken Paris’ lead, and to date, 13 cities that are starting to ban [gasoline] cars. The future is today, if we can grab it!
musings of a gujarati-american gal 