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In Washington in 2022, transportation accounted for 42.5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Our per capita emissions of over 5 tons is larger than the US average, and is nearly three times larger than in per capita emissions in Europe.
In Washington in 2022, transportation accounted for 42.5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Our per capita emissions of over 5 tons is larger than the US average, and is nearly three times larger than in per capita emissions in Europe.
At the same time, we are experiencing a 20-year high in pedestrian and bicycle deaths and an overall increase in traffic fatalities per vehicle miles traveled (more facts at the end of this page).
At the same time, we are experiencing a 20-year high in pedestrian and bicycle deaths and an overall increase in traffic fatalities per vehicle miles traveled (more facts at the end of this page).
Clearly, we need to do things differently.
Clearly, we need to do things differently.
The interactive tool below allows you to calculate how much emissions would decrease if public transit or eBikes were added in your city.
Additional Facts (from Front and Centered)
Additional Facts (from Front and Centered)
Washington State:
Washington State:
According to Washington State Department of Health, in our state "72.9% of working adults commute to work alone in their cars compared to 4.4% who walk or bike."
According to Washington State Department of Transportation, in 2022, "more than 270,000 households in Washington are likely to have unmet transportation needs due to a lack of, or inadequate access to, public transportation." This is more common in rural areas.
Washington State is the 4th higher spender on road expansion in the U.S. Transportation funding does not provide mobility for all — 25% of the state’s population have no driver’s license, yet only 4% of the state’s transportation budget goes for public transit, bike, and pedestrian investments. Instead, there is more funding for expanding highways, which only increases the dependence on cars.
In 2022, the Washington State Legislature passed a package called Move Ahead WA that invests in transit agencies and multi-modal solutions. However, some of these investments do not consider cultural heritage, an important aspect to enhance a sense of belonging in people.
Funds for the Climate Commitment Act help support investments in transit such as free transit for everyone 18 and younger, safer bike and pedestrian infrastructure, electrification of ferries and cars, and removal of fish passage barriers along state highways. It also has helped to create rebate programs for electric cars are more affordable for low income familes; it’s also helping public transit agencies electrify municipal bus fleets.
WSDOT is responsible for more than 20,000 lane-miles of roadway, nearly 3,000 vehicular bridges and 524 other transportation-related structures. This infrastructure includes rail lines, state highways, state ferries (considered part of the highway system), bike lanes, and state airports. However, there are 32 local public transit agencies in Washington state, which serve rural, small urban, urban and regional areas.
WA Transit Access Map
WA Transit Access Map
The Washington Transit Access Map (WA TAM) reveals that Washingtonians experience drastic inequalities in reliable transit service and provides communities with a tool to advocate for better transit across the state.
Environmental Disparities
Environmental Disparities
The Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map (EHD Map) provides data-driven insights into where people experience the greatest environmental health risk factors that can contribute to inequitable health outcomes and unequal access to healthy and prosperous communities.
Transportation Justice
Transportation Justice
Front and Centered has proposed a Transportation Justice Agenda that calls for:
Stopping highway expansion in frontline communities, those already most overburdened by pollution.
Building sidewalks and public transportation across the state.
Read More on Clean Transportation
Read More on Clean Transportation
A webpage by Transportation Choice that explores some of the issues of the current transit city in Washington State, exploring spaces of opportunity to move to a clean and just transportation system.
An annual campaign, managed in Washington State by Disability Rights Washington to invite people, policymakers, and leaders to understand from first-hand experience the barriers that nondrivers experience every day to move across their cities or towns.
A blog story by Front and Centered that looks into current investments in electrification in transportation in Washington State and offers a community-led and coalition-based perspective, rooted in a just transition.
A report by Earthworks that looks into the tradeoffs linked to the decarbonization of transportation, by looking into more responsible ways to obtain minerals and metals for batteries.
A report by the Climate and Community Institute.
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