48 Groups Join Together to Help Lawmakers, City Officials and
Business Leaders Develop 21st-Century Clean Transportation Network
Offering More Options and Serving the Needs of All in the Northeast and
Mid-Atlantic
WASHINGTON & BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Forty-eight local, regional and national groups today launched a new
coalition, Our
Transportation Future, established to help Northeast and
Mid-Atlantic states develop a regional clean transportation system that
protects public health, curbs climate-changing pollution, expands
economies and improves the flow of commerce. The coalition will support
states’ efforts to address a transportation system that is unworkable,
outmoded and is the leading source of carbon pollution driving climate
change.
Our Transportation Future (OTF) is committed to finding solutions and
modernizing transportation across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region.
The coalition aims to help transform the region’s transportation system
into a model for the nation that gets people in rural, suburban and
urban communities where they need to go safely, more efficiently and
with less exposure to harmful pollution.
OTF experts are taking an active role to educate state policy makers and
the media. The new OTF website will provide important news, information
and announcements about the ongoing efforts to modernize transportation
across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. A monthly round-up of
media coverage and commentary about regional clean transportation is
available at OTF with a free subscription.
OTF supports the policy objectives of the Transportation
and Climate Initiative (TCI), a collaboration of Northeast and
Mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia working to reduce
transportation pollution and invest in a modern, clean transportation
future for the region. In December
2018, nine TCI states and D.C. committed to working over the course
of 2019 to design and create a market-based program to limit
transportation pollution while improving public transit, expanding
electric vehicle use, establishing more bikeways and pedestrian walkways
and fostering economic growth.
Bruce Ho, senior advocate, climate and clean energy, Natural Resources
Defense Council, said: “We must not let this rare opportunity pass us
by. Now is the time to come together to transform a transportation
system that today is dirty, dated and dangerous into a modern, vibrant,
clean and safe network that serves the needs of all, from town to city
across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. We are committed to working with
leaders throughout the region to make this vision a reality.”
Jordan Stutt, carbon programs director, Acadia Center said: “This
broad group of organizations has united around a shared reality: it’s
time to invest in our transportation future. Our air is polluted, our
public transit is outdated, and traffic is choking our cities. Through
TCI and other clean transportation policies, we can invest in solutions
for cleaner air, healthier people, and a thriving economy.”
Chris Dempsey of Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA) said: “Governors
across the region have stepped up to address this issue, and
advocates that care about transportation and the environment are here to
back them up. Transportation is the largest source of air pollution in
Massachusetts, and the market-based, regional approach championed by
Governor Baker should be a cornerstone policy in addressing this
pressing problem.”
A full version of the press release with quotes from additional OTF
members is available at: https://www.ourtransportationfuture.org/launchannouncement.
ABOUT OTF
Our Transportation Future is a coalition of local, regional and national
organizations committed to modernizing transportation across the
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region. OTF is focused on improving our
transportation system — the ways we move people and goods in the region
– to spur economic growth, make us healthier and safer, clean up the
environment, and improve our quality of life.
An improved transportation system means more clean cars and trucks, more
reliable mass transit, more walkable and bikeable communities, and
investments that connect everyone, including those in underserved and
rural areas.
OTF members include: A Better City, Acadia Center, Ceres, Central
Maryland Transportation Alliance, Clean Air Council, Clean Water Action,
Climate Law and Policy Project, ClimateXChange, ConnPIRG, Connecticut
Fund for the Environment, Conservation Law Foundation, Environmental
Entrepreneurs, Energize Maryland, Environment America, Environment
Connecticut, Environment Massachusetts, Environment Maryland,
Environment Maine, Environment New Hampshire, Environment New Jersey,
Environment New York, Environment Rhode Island, Environment Virginia,
Environmental Advocates of New York, Environmental League of
Massachusetts, MassINC Gateway Cities Innovation Initiative, Green
Energy Consumers Alliance, Green For All, Health Care Without Harm,
Maryland PIRG, Mass Climate Action Network, MassPIRG, Natural Resources
Defense Council, The Nature Conservancy, NJPIRG, The New York League of
Conservation Voters, Northeast Clean Energy Council, PennEnvironment,
Rail Passengers Association, Sierra Club, Transportation for America,
Transportation for Massachusetts, Tri-State Transportation Campaign,
Union of Concerned Scientists, USPIRG, Vermont Energy Investment
Corporation, Vermont Natural Resources Council, 350 MASS for A Better
Future.
Contacts
Patrick Mitchell, (703) 276-3266 or [email protected]
