A recent Tab editorial by Newton’s Sustainability Director Rob Garrity highlighted great progress Newton has made in shrinking its carbon footprint. Newton deserves to be proud of its environmental leadership and the accomplishments.
Yet the largest single sector of greenhouse gas emissions – transportation – is conspicuously absent from the editorial. Newton needs a transportation sustainability plan that sets targets and timelines for carbon emissions reduction, and incentivizes the shift from single occupancy car travel to transit and active transportation by developing policies, plans, infrastructure and facilities to achieve those targets.
What should be Newton’s transportation sustainability goals and targets?
@Nathan: An important question and topic. But given that so much of our desperately-needed mass transit improvements are dependent on the state, the MBTA and other municipalities, what should and can a municipality within it’s own goals and targets? Not saying we shouldn’t, just throwing your question back at you for your perspective.
Meanwhile, perhaps someone (Jerry?) can explain why the rail trail that runs parallel to Needham Street still isn’t finished?
Greg is right on. Why would we read the tremendous accomplishments outlined in the opinion letter where Newton City Hall and our Mayor had a direct impact and ask what’s up with things City Hall has little impact? That opinion letter is quite impressive and those that focused on sustainability deserve Statewide if not national praise for these accomplishments. If this is all coming back to where we approve housing, etc, that’s a thread that has nothing to do w light bulbs and water lines
Hoss, no argument – the City deserves praise for its excellent leadership and accomplishments on sustainability in the areas highlighted in Rob Garrity’s letter.
Greg, my perspective is that Newton has an existing transit system that is the envy of many communities. We have 7 green line stations and 3 commuter rails stations. We need to increase bus service (including innovations like one you mentioned: http://village14.com/newton-ma/2014/07/could-newton-benefit-from-bridj/#axzz3DO7Uemi0 ), and continue engagement with our state representatives and state agencies about the future of public transportation in Newton (http://village14.com/newton-ma/2014/07/the-future-of-public-transportation-in-newtonville/ ). Kay Kahn in particular has been outstanding in working at the state level to improve public transit and accessibility in Newton. But these efforts do not seem to be linked to an overall Newton transportation sustainability master plan or vision. That linkage needs to happen.
There is so much we can do in parallel with those efforts on public transit. Perhaps the biggest is to make the first or last mile of a commute – to or from a transit station – safer and more efficient. For example, bike share or car share at each transit station, and at/near each school and village center. The Waban T station is less than a mile from Zervas. That’s a 10 minute walk and a 5 minute bike ride. Could bike lockers – and a safe bike route like protected bike lanes from Waban T to Zervas – provide incentives for 10% of teachers or staff to choose to bike?
The market for sustainable transportation business continues to develop. I just saw that the Auburndale Commuter Rail station now has two zipcars. We need to ramp up the transportation sharing economy in Newton I believe we could reduce car ownership in Newton by 20-25% with car share/ride share.
….and Hubway!
@Greg you beat me to it. I agree with all of Nathan’s points and was going to add we gotta get Hubway going.