Transportation

COVID-19’s Impact on the Transportation and Energy Consumption Sector Traffic on Highway 101 decreased dramatically during the pandemic. Credit: Don Nolte Many state and regional economies had to shut down beginning in February and March of 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. According to the Institute for Regional Studies in Silicon Valley, annual GHG emissions in Silicon Valley could decline by an estimated 8 to 21 percent year-over-year, based on measured declines in vehicle miles traveled in March and April. Similarly, global GHG emissions are expected to decrease by 4 to 8 percent this year due [...]

Electrification of CalTrain, Bullet Train (High Speed Rail) *  Use of Green Infrastructure * Multi-modal transport that bring additional benefits of health and environment - Complete streets * Blue Planet * CAL FIRE’s Strategic Plan to Limit Wildfire Damage *  San Francisco Airport’s Zero Net Energy Goal  *  Sanger and Chowchilla: Models for Clean Energy Financing *  How Artificial Intelligence Can Help Build Resilience * Safeguarding Highway 101 on Humboldt Bay from Rising Sea Levels * Valley Water’s Multi-Pronged Approach to Safeguarding Water Resources  * The Ohlone-Portolá Heritage Trail *  Smart Sidewalks by Pavegen Systems * Peninsula Clean Energy: Cleaner and Cheaper Energy   [...]

Transportation has significant impact on GHG emissions and air quality. Laying out infrastructure and incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency and transitioning to clean energy can help mitigate GHG emissions. In 2012, the transportation sector contributed to about 61 percent of total GHG emissions in SMC.[1] Solo driving accounts for most of the GHG emissions by this sector.[2] These high levels of emissions can be attributed to the fact that SMC is located in between two major employment hubs, San Francisco and Santa Clara counties.[3] Idling for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel and produces more emissions that [...]