Transit and a Green New Deal
Tue Dec 3, 6:00 PM - Tue Dec 3, 8:00 PM

The Green New Deal resolution, introduced earlier this year by Representative Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Markey, aims to address the climate crisis by using the full force of the federal government to decarbonize the economy while addressing societal inequities.

Private cars and the development patterns car travel induces are a primary source of greenhouse gas emissions. Only by shifting trips from cars to transit will we be able to decarbonize the transportation sector rapidly enough to fend off a disastrous rise in global temperatures. And yet, federal transportation funding isn’t set up to help transit succeed. Most funds still go toward road expansion, and even funding that is set aside for transit often fails to support frequent, all-day service in urban areas that need it most.

The existential threat of climate change demands a different approach - one that puts fast, reliable transit within walking distance of as many homes and jobs as possible.

How might we channel the energy and spirit of the Green New Deal to develop a federal policy framework that supports transit and lessens our dependence on automobiles? How can the Green New Deal incorporate the ideals of transportation justice? And how can we spur Congress to adopt these policies? Join TransitCenter and Data for Progress to hear from advocates and policy experts about how to reshape transportation and rise to the challenge of the climate crisis.

Panelists: