10b. Draft recommendations from Transportation Working Group — original pdf

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Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20230726-XXX Date: September 26, 2023September 25, 2023September 6, 2023 Subject: Priorities for implementation of the Austin Climate Equity Plan Motioned By: Seconded By: Description of Recommendations to Council Transportation Electrification Recommendations: 1. The Joint Sustainability Commission recommends that Austin Energy, in collaboration with CapMetro and City of Austin Department of Transportation and Public Works, define and then conduct an Electric Vehicles (EV) Community Needs Assessment with a focus on the Eastern Crescent, Rundberg (North Austin, North Lamar, Georgian Acres), and Dove Springs. Assessment should build on community engagement and feedback (such as leveraging an Ambassadors program and partnering with entities such as TxETRA) to address mobility challenges in these regions and consider other electric mobility options such as buses, shuttles, and carsharing. 2. The Joint Sustainability Commission recommends that Austin Energy will provide develop city-wide incentives for buying and leasing new and used EVs targeted only to those who qualify for the Austin Energy Customer Assistance Program (CAP). 3. The Joint Sustainability Commission recommends that Austin Energy will facilitate the createion of a coalition of organizations and a paid ambassadors program (e.g., Climate Ambassadors), to provide stipends to individuals and organizations that already have trust in the community to provide EV education. Education shouldwill encompass: clarifying the EV charging process, raising awareness about available incentives, and increasing community involvement by connecting systematically excluded groups with job and training/education opportunities in the EV field.  2 Transportation Electrification Rationales: 1. Austin Energy identified this as a high equity impact strategy. The Austin Climate Equity Plan notes that conducting a community EV Community Needs Assessment will assist in identifying the intersections of mobility challenges, transportation electrification, and racial and economic justice. The assessment will inform an EV adoption growth plan that will be supported by enhanced communications efforts and incentives. [Transportation Electrification Goal 1, Strategy 1] 2. Even though there are federal and state-wide incentives that have made EVs more affordable and comparable to internal combustion engine vehicles, current incentives are not targeted to low-income communities. Also, EV adopters tend to belong to higher income population groups. Therefore, a city-wide incentive toward low-income communities can level the playing field, promote a just and equitable transition to EVs and accelerate EV adoption city-wide. This would be considered a high equity and high emission reduction impact recommendation. [Transportation Electrification Goal 1, Strategy 2] 3. A lack of education around available tax incentives, environmental impact and how an EV works is a significant factor in EV adoption. In addition to educating systematically excluded groups on EVs to increase EV adoption, providing them with education and career opportunities is essential so that they can become part of the EV workforce. [Transportation Electrification Goal 2, Strategy 4] Transportation and Land Use Recommendations: 1. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that the City of Austin take a comprehensive approach to extreme heat mitigation, response, and resiliency, with a focus on the following actions: a. Cool Corridor Program. Identify key mobility corridors that could serve as “cool corridors” with natural and engineered shade/cooling solutions to provide safe, climate-resilient connectivity on key pedestrian and transit routes. These corridors should (1) prioritize benefits in low-income neighborhoods facing high heat vulnerability, (2) address gaps based on the City’s existing heat vulnerability analyses, and (3) be developed in consultation with community-based organizations. Initial locations to prioritize for cool corridors should include the Rundberg area and the St. Johns, Montopolis, Franklin Park, and Dove Springs neighborhoods, due to high heat vulnerability as measured by various socioeconomic and heat exposure indicators. Key investments in cool corridors should include the following: i. Drought-tolerant tree plantings; ii. In partnership with CapMetro, Art in Public Places, and other key institutions and stakeholders, create joint funding for research, design, and installation of resilient transit stops (including upgrades to existing  3 transit stops) at sites facing high heat vulnerability (see existing example). These sites should provide adequate shade, especially during extreme heat advisories; Installation of shade structures (with solar panels, where feasible), with a focus on providing rest areas and shaded connectivity to parks, recreation centers, trails, schools and other community spaces/facilities; Installation of fan misters at high-traffic transit stops; Installation of shaded drinking fountains in parks, recreation centers, trails, and other community spaces/facilities adjacent to cool corridors; iii. iv. v. vi. Creation of bioswales, vegetated bump-outs, rain gardens, planter boxes, native/drought-tolerant vegetation, and other green infrastructure; vii. Other shade/cooling amenities and features as described in the City of Austin’s Green Streets Introduction and C40’s Urban Cooling Toolbox b. Dedicated Shade Fund. Create a dedicated fund for shade and cooling that will require continued investment (minimum $500,000 annually) following that made in the FY24 budget to address urgent shade needs in the identified cool corridors and at other key neighborhood sites based on community input. c. Comprehensive Heat Mitigation and Response Strategy. Develop a comprehensive strategy to coordinate heat mitigation and response activities in Austin in light of the increasing impacts of extreme heat due to climate change. The strategy should be developed in consultation with City departments, local and regional government stakeholders, CapMetro, the private sector, and non- profit and community partners (e.g., health and social service organizations; disability and homelessness advocacy groups, etc.). The strategy should identify key actions addressing heat mitigation, emergency preparedness, and heat response that will increase the city’s resilience to extreme heat. The strategy should also include a clear definition of roles and responsibilities in the implementation of identified heat mitigation and response activities for each of the key stakeholder groups described above. Transportation and Land Use Rationales: 1. Summer 2023 was Austin's hottest summer on record, surpassing prior records set in 2022 and 2011, and future summers are expected to bring more extreme heat. Mitigating heat through increased shade provision and urban cooling strategies is vital given that it is the deadliest weather hazard in the US and negatively impacts health, especially for children, the elderly, low-income populations, communities of color, and outdoor workers. A recent assessment conducted by Go! Austin/Vamos! Austin (GAVA), the City of Austin, and UT Health of the University of Texas at Austin [attached] found that extreme heat is already causing a slew of negative physical and mental health impacts in low- income Austin neighborhoods, and residents of these areas would like to see more trees, parks, water features, and water fountains to mitigate climate- related heat impacts. Providing shade and cooling in public spaces serves the Austin Climate Equity Plan's overall goal of implementing equitable strategies in response to climate change, prioritizing Austin’s Eastern Crescent. [Transportation and Land Use Goal 3, Strategy 3] [Transportation and Land Use Goal 3, Strategy 6] [Natural Systems Goal 2, Strategy 3] 4 Vote For: Against: Abstain: Absent: Attest: [Staff or board member can sign]