Atlanta Building The Electrified Compact City
Atlanta has been a transportation hub since the city was founded as the end of the Western & Atlantic railroad line. With Atlanta being the third largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the country, it only makes sense for the city to be a leader in implementing our climate future. A few of the strategies emphasizing the synergy connecting electric vehicles and compact cities are having specific low or zero emission zones within city centers, support and fund electric bicycles and scooters, invest in clean infrastructure, and dedication to transport funding for public transit such as bus fleets.
MARTA is doing just that, and leading transit into the future. Just recently, August 16 of this year, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration announced the allotment $1.66 billion in grants to transit agencies, territories, and states funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. All of this sounds great but, what does it mean for the residents? Imagine your city as a cleaner, healthier, more equitable place to live. Studies show more than 40% of people in the U.S. live in places with critical levels of high air pollution including unsafe levels of ‘forever chemicals’ in rainwater.
With climate change comes an increased concentration of pollution in the air as well as bacteria and viruses. With cleaner air from the new MARTA EVs, you will see less health-related issues such as lung, heart, different forms of cancer, and neurological diseases. Not only are there health benefits but also community and operational benefits. The new EV buses don’t emit the noise level their counterparts emit making residents and riders have a more enjoyable life. The EV buses are a smoother ride so riders can spend their journey time talking, relaxing, or working. The buses have lower fuel costs, fewer components, require less maintenance and have a longer life cycle. We aren’t driving Spinners from the movie Blade Runner yet, but we are pretty close to the transport system in 2002’s Minority Report with Tom Cruise.
Next up, charging stations and how they are popping up everywhere so, don’t be afraid your EV will leave you stranded.
Teresa Perkins is a climate change and sustainability journalist, who is creating research-based climate change content pertaining to sustainable energy at local, national, and global level for publication and distribution. She partners with non-profit organizations for innovative ideas and sustainability projects and connects global UN Climate Change reports to local initiatives.
