Given the overwhelming evidence in favor of climate change, entities in charge of infrastructure planning need to emphasize sustainability in their developments. Pursuing sustainable initiatives is key to fostering a more habitable ecosystem, and funding from a CPRG grant can give your organization the flexibility and financial resources to pioneer new climate-conscious infrastructure projects. By applying for one of these environmental grants, your organization can also partner with and encourage private sector firms in their efforts to similarly go green.
For transportation planners, in particular, the incentive to embrace sustainability is even greater. Many freight companies’ fleet managers realize the benefits of modifying their operations to be greener, but at the same time, they need to be supported by those who are planning the networks their drivers travel on. One such example is via fleet electrification. Transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) is one of the most effective ways for a company’s fleet operations to become more sustainable, but the infrastructure its drivers use daily also needs to be built to handle a shift to EVs. This means building more public EV charging stations, making structural improvements to refine traffic flow, and knowing what other areas of infrastructure are best to enhance.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides further information on recent federal initiatives to improve charger accessibility for EV drivers. In 2022 and 2023, the FHWA administered nearly $623 million in grants to increase charging stations and alternative fuel source presence in specific locations.
Developing more efficient road networks is another equally important component of sustainability for transportation planners. By studying relevant data about common traffic bottlenecks and implementing new construction projects to help alleviate them, the duration of time that vehicles spend idling and emitting excess greenhouse gasses can be reduced.
Furthermore, greener highway funding initiatives like these tie into the overarching objectives of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Passed in late 2021, this bill includes financial backing for eligible organizations that invest in new solutions for making transportation safer and more efficient. Several key points in this piece of legislation reference initiatives like vehicle electrification and clean energy, which can ultimately help municipalities meet their specific greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets.
