Clean and Active Transportation - California Climate and Energy Collaborative

Priority Area: Clean & Active Transportation

Barriers & Solutions

To achieve the desired future outlined above, California will need to accelerate climate action across CA. Participants share that several key barriers impede progress and require further attention, as detailed below: Transportation Electrification and Vehicle Miles Traveled. On the left, toggle through these barriers to view details about challenges experienced across the state and solution opportunities at the state and local level.

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Emission reductions in many communities requires accelerating transportation decarbonization including fleet electrification, EV charging infrastructure but without coordinated battery management and integration with buildings and the grid, their resilience and energy potential remain underutilized.

Transportation Electrification Challenges

View related challenges SLECC stakeholders have experienced across the state.

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Local Solution Opportunities

SLECC stakeholders have brainstormed the following solution opportunities that can be taken by local leaders. Existing examples of progress or pathways to make further progress are highlighted if known.

Local or State

Solution

Existing Examples of Progress

Further Progress Pathways

Local Solution

(Type of Activity: Construction/Installation/Procurement )

Co-locate stationary storage with fleet depots or critical facilities to guarantee baseline resilience even when buses return depleted.

LA Metro’s electric bus fleet demonstrates the potential of EV batteries as supplemental storage for microgrids, but in practice buses often return from routes with depleted batteries, limiting their resilience value. Stakeholders emphasized that realizing this potential will require coordinated planning to reserve capacity for grid use and pairing EVs with stationary batteries at critical facilities.

State Solution Opportunities

SLECC stakeholders have brainstormed the following solution opportunities that can be taken by state leaders. Existing examples of progress or pathways to make further progress are highlighted if known.

Local or State

Solution

Existing Examples of Progress

Further Progress Pathways

State Solution

(Type of Activity: Program Implementation and Outreach )

Develop planning tools and technical assistance to help local agencies manage the complexity of integrating EVs into microgrids.

Local or State

Solution

Existing Examples of Progress

Further Progress Pathways

State Solution

(Type of Activity: Policy/Regulation )

Reform demand-response and incentive structures to reduce penalties and encourage experimentation with dual-use EVs

Solution Spotlight

No results found.

Emission reductions in many communities requires reducing vehicle miles traveled through active transportation etc.

Vehicle Miles Traveled Challenges

View related challenges SLECC stakeholders have experienced across the state.

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Local Solution Opportunities

Local or State

Solution

Existing Examples of Progress

Further Progress Pathways

Local Solution

(Type of Activity: Policy/Planning/Land Use )

Streamline permitting for infill and transit-oriented development – Simplify approvals for housing near jobs and transit, reducing dependence on cars

Local or State

Solution

Existing Examples of Progress

Further Progress Pathways

Local Solution

(Type of Activity: Policy/Planning/Land Use )

Regional collaboration for mode shift – Create regional governance frameworks to coordinate VMT reduction strategies across jurisdictions, linking land use, housing, and transportation planning

Local or State

Solution

Existing Examples of Progress

Further Progress Pathways

Local Solution

(Type of Activity: Policy/Planning/Land Use )

Integrate mobility into CAPs – Local governments suggested embedding VMT reduction targets and active transportation strategies directly into Climate Action Plans

Local or State

Solution

Existing Examples of Progress

Further Progress Pathways

Local Solution

(Type of Activity: Community Program Implementation )

Localized education and outreach – Support programs that promote active transportation and transit use, tied to health, cost savings, and resilience benefits

Local or State

Solution

Existing Examples of Progress

Further Progress Pathways

Local Solution

(Type of Activity: Community Program Implementation )

Community-based planning for mobility – Engage residents, including disadvantaged and tribal communities, in co-designing transportation improvements so projects reflect lived needs

Local or State

Solution

Existing Examples of Progress

Further Progress Pathways

Local Solution

(Type of Activity: Construction/Installation/Procurement )

Build active transportation infrastructure – Expand bike lanes, safe pedestrian routes, and local transit connections to make non-vehicle travel more viable

Local or State

Solution

Existing Examples of Progress

Further Progress Pathways

Local Solution

(Type of Activity: Construction/Installation/Procurement )

Green infrastructure integration – Integrate urban greening and shade structures into walking and biking corridors to increase usability during extreme heat

State Solution Opportunities

Local or State

Solution

Existing Examples of Progress

Further Progress Pathways

State Solution

(Type of Activity: Policy/Regulation )

Reform funding allocation formulas – Adjust formulas so small jurisdictions and disadvantaged communities can compete fairly for state transportation and climate funds

Local or State

Solution

Existing Examples of Progress

Further Progress Pathways

State Solution

(Type of Activity: Construction/Installation/Procurement )

Invest in electrified transit fleets – State investment in electric buses and supporting charging infrastructure to complement VMT reduction while also cutting emissions

Local or State

Solution

Existing Examples of Progress

Further Progress Pathways

State Solution

(Type of Activity: Policy/Regulation )

Align VMT policies with climate goals – State policy should strengthen requirements that link land use, housing, and transportation planning to measurable VMT reductions

Local or State

Solution

Existing Examples of Progress

Further Progress Pathways

State Solution

(Type of Activity: Program Implementation and Outreach )

Expand transit and active transportation funding – State programs should increase funding for local transit systems, bike/pedestrian projects, and rural mobility pilots

Local or State

Solution

Existing Examples of Progress

Further Progress Pathways

State Solution

(Type of Activity: Program Implementation and Outreach )

Target rural and tribal mobility needs – State should design transportation funding programs tailored to rural and tribal communities, where distances and lack of infrastructure create unique barriers

Solution Spotlight

No results found.