Transportation policy must lead way to low-carbon future

Let's establish four key facts right away:

In 2020, MnDOT created a Sustainable Transportation Advisory Council (STAC) made up of 22 leaders from the public, private and nonprofit sectors, community organizations and elected officials to advise the agency on strategies to reduce carbon pollution from transportation, consistent with the Minnesota's Next Generation Energy Act goals and in a way that promotes equity, environmental justice and economic development.

Recently, MnDOT adopted several of the STAC's recommendations to:

The simple reality is that car ownership is expensive and should not be a requirement to get around safely and efficiently in our state. Developing a transportation system primarily for single occupancy cars is inefficient, expensive, and unfair — especially to low-income households, who spend an average of 42% of their annual income on transportation.

Not everyone has access to a car, no one likes getting stuck in traffic congestion, and spending more time sitting in cars makes us less healthy through inactivity and pollution.

When we think about reducing vehicle miles traveled, we are focused on providing safe, convenient, and affordable alternatives to driving alone, not about restricting anyone's ability to get around.

Bikeable, walkable communities that include convenient and affordable transit options are essential to a safer, healthier, and more livable future in Minnesota. We also need to ensure that transportation infrastructure is tailored to the local community. Needs in urban cores are different from needs in greater Minnesota, which is why the 20% reduction goal for VMT is preliminary. We recognize that opportunities may be different for urban, suburban and rural areas and that local land use decisions have an impact.

There is no question that MnDOT's future will prioritize multiple modes of transportation, but we also need to do more to embrace and accelerate the adoption of EVs. Building out a more complete network of charging stations will help reduce "range anxiety," a major factor in many folks' decision to purchase an electric vehicle or not.

The shift to EVs will also leverage rapid progress made by Minnesota utilities to transition to lower carbon electricity generation, making EVs even cleaner over time. Right now, EVs make up less than 1% of all registered vehicles in Minnesota — but the interest in Minnesota and nationwide in making the switch to electric is stronger than ever. State policy should acknowledge and capitalize on that interest and prioritize solutions that make purchasing and driving an EV easier and more affordable.

MnDOT owns and operates just a fraction of Minnesota's 142,000 miles of roadway. Envisioning and creating a multimodal, sustainable, low-carbon transportation system that better serves all people will require broad public-private partnerships and collaboration led by science-based policies.

From community solar panels on MnDOT properties to a zero-emission fleet by 2030, MnDOT is doing the work internally to lead by example — and through the work of the STAC and other major initiatives like Rethinking I-94, the agency is committed to listening to community and taking bold and groundbreaking action that reduces carbon pollution and provides options for all Minnesotans.

All of Minnesota's businesses, organizations and governments are needed in this work. It is our shared duty and responsibility to act now to realize a low-carbon future that reduces inequities, improves public health, emphasizes safety, and supports economic opportunity. Future generations are depending on us.