Message from DEQ: "On June 24, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will launch a public engagement project to help deliver Virginia’s clean transportation future and we’d love to have you join us.
The transportation sector is the largest source of climate and other air pollution in Virginia. Exhaust from cars, trucks, and buses can contribute to poor air quality and negative health outcomes, especially in communities of color. The Commonwealth of Virginia has a target, now established in state law, to reach net-zero emissions across the economy, including the transportation sector, by 2045.
Reaching this target will help Virginia do its part to address the climate crisis, improve air quality and public health, and tackle inequities in our transportation network. The first step to these efforts will be public outreach and engagement by DEQ with support from our project facilitator AECOM. This project will inform an upcoming DEQ report that will investigate strategies to accelerate low-carbon transportation solutions and ultimately eliminate greenhouse gas pollution from the transportation sector.
A key priority for this work is to maximize the air quality and economic benefit of clean transportation solutions for communities that have historically been the most burdened by the existing fossil fuel-dependent system. Making space for stakeholders, especially those from environmental justice communities, and working with all interested parties to design plans for the future of clean transportation in Virginia is crucial to the success of this project. Ideas garnered from these meetings may be used to inform future policy decisions.
The kickoff meeting for this project will be on Thursday, June 24, at 10am. More details and a registration link for this meeting will be provided soon. Information and details for additional meetings and other opportunities to hear your ideas will also be provided during the kickoff meeting.
Please plan to join us as we work together to create a cleaner transportation system for the benefit of all Virginians."
VMA will forward more details and the registration link when it becomes available.
