Closing General Session: Strategies for Decarbonizing Transportation: Transit’s Central Role

The transportation sector collectively causes contributes more greenhouse gas emissions than any other sector of the economy. A partnership among the federal Department of Transportation, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Housing and Urban Development has produced The U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization: A Joint Strategy to Transform Transportation. Federal partners will describe the multi-modal, multi-sector and public-private partnership approach required to make big strides in reducing green-house gas emissions from transportation while advancing equity, environmental justice, safety, and economic growth. The initiative has a strong focus on the significant impact land-use and affordability have on transport demand. Complementing the remarks those remarks, local examples of transit agency initiatives to reduce the emissions will further illustrate public transportation’s central role.

U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization:  A Joint Strategy to Transform Transportation
Federal officials will discuss this joint initiative of the Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Housing and Urban Development.

• Morgan Ellis, Senior Advisor, Sustainable Transportation, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
• Bruce Robinson, Associate Administrator for Program Management, Federal Transit Administration

Panel Discussion:  Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions via Public Transportation 

• Rob Borowski, MSCRP, ENV-SP, Sustainability Officer, Capital Metro Transportation Authority
• Latrice Virola, Director of Customer Relations, Stark Area Regional Transit Authority
• Michael S. Wojnar, Senior Advisor for Innovation & Policy, Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Moderator:

• Lesley Kandaras, Interim General Manager, Metro Transit

Remarks:

• JC Vannatta, Executive Director of Public Affairs, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet)