Community-based alternative urban transportation decarbonization pathways and co-benefits for climate resilience, air quality, health, and equity

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As municipalities develop action plans to meet zero-emission targets, opportunities exist to reduce urban vehicle kilometres travelled (VkT). Although fleet electrification is a focus of past and current research and policy, pathways to decarbonize mobility must not focus on electrification alone. Opportunities to reduce VkT are significant enough to (a) reduce emissions, (b) reduce the immediate need for extensive private vehicle electrification, and (c) provide climate resiliency benefits while advancing other community goals. Diversifying mobility options are expected to enhance overall community resilience and sustainability. This project will advance Canadian knowledge and tools to inform community decision-making processes to achieve net-zero objectives by investigating alternate transportation pathways. This research will develop an integrated environmental assessment tool to support community-based transportation plans that aim to (a) achieve zero-emission objectives based on smarter more active mobility options and (b) incorporate climate-oriented planning from a resilience, health, and livability perspective, and (c) showcase equitable benefits of decarbonization investment. The interdisciplinary team of researchers from mechanical engineering, earth and atmospheric science, civil engineering, public policy, urban planning, and environmental health will contribute to developing elements of the integrated modelling system. The research will address critical knowledge gaps in community planning and design for the interconnectivity of and trade-offs between emerging vehicle technologies, diverse transportation modes, emissions reduction targets, atmospheric chemical reactions, infrastructure and service resilience under a rapidly changing climate, and aim to identify co-benefits in terms of reduced health impacts, air pollution exposure disparities, and overall increased livability. This research answer the question: What can Canadian communities do to dramatically reduce the transportation emissions, crucial for achieving net-zero targets by 2050, build resilience in the sector and community, and advance additional community health and livability benefits?