Transportation and Climate Initiative Kicks Off Work in Four Areas

Agency heads from the 11 states that make up the Transportation and Climate Initiative approved the group’s first work plan in October.

The plan focuses on four key areas: 1) the development of clean vehicles and fuels, including the creation of a regional electric vehicle network, 2) promoting the development of sustainable communities, 3) implementing communication and information technology throughout the region and 4) improving the efficiency of freight transportation.

More than 90 policy makers and subject area experts from participating states are now engaged in the effort.

The Transportation and Climate Initiative was launched in June 2010 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector and to create clean energy jobs by the top transportation, energy and environment officials in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and the District of Columbia.

The TCI has also released some of its initial briefing papers that provide an overview of RGGI, summarize policy options in state climate action plans, and summarize climate change provisions in state long-range transportation plans.

At its June summit, the group also released its official Declaration of Intent, signed by all of the leading participants.