By Janet Gingold
February 2019
Facing the clear and present danger of climate change, with the transportation sector producing over 28% of US greenhouse gas emissions, we see an urgent need for transition to cleaner, greener transportation options. The aging transportation infrastructure along the Northeast Corridor is not keeping up with demands related to increasing population and economic growth. The necessary major systemic changes require regional planning and implementation with greenhouse gas reduction as a primary goal. Costs and benefits of each proposed infrastructure improvement need to be compared with other options not only in terms of dollars spent and transit times but also in terms of carbon pollution and environmental justice. How much greenhouse gas is emitted per passenger-mile travelled? Who benefits? Who pays the price? Is it sustainable? Is it fair?