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Articles by Amanda Eaken
Our Vision Goes Beyond Zero
Ten years ago last month, San Francisco proudly became the second city in the United States to adopt Vision Zero, an ambitious pledge to end all serious and fatal traffic crashes. Since I joined the SFMTA Board of Directors in 2018, I have been laser focused on what it will take to get to zero. Like many of you, I feel very strongly that this must be a top priority for our city.
We all love Valencia Street. Let’s make sure it works for everyone.
The center running bikeway installed in 2023 as part of the mid-Valencia pilot. San Francisco is a high-density city. This helps neighborhoods like the Mission thrive because they are where people live, work, visit restaurants and shop at our small businesses. It’s where different communities intersect with different needs. It’s where we come together. It’s the best of urban living. When we make decisions about improving our neighborhoods, we have to consider all of this.
Bikes and SF businesses collide over Valencia Street pilot
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How Congress can get cities moving
The Biden administration has set an ambitious climate goal for America: a 50 percent decrease in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. To reach this goal, changing the way we move must be key since transportation is the largest contributor of GHGs in the United States. Fortunately, cities are already leading the way. My colleagues and I have been working since 2018 with 25 cities as part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge.
"Zero Now Fund" Powers Electric Trucks In Chicago, San Diego, & San Jose
Electric FedEx delivery truck recharging Argonne National Laboratory. Some Rights Reserved. Terms of Use (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0). By Amanda Eaken The time is now. Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is mulling over a national truck emissions standard, the soonest it could begin putting this in motion is 2027. We cannot afford to wait that long.
How Congress Can Get Cities Moving
This blog was co-authored with Sarah Kline, Federal Transportation Consultant to NRDC. Caroline Yang for NRDC The Biden administration has set an ambitious climate goal for America: a 50 percent decrease in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. To reach this goal, changing the way we move must be key since transportation is the largest contributor of GHGs in the United States. Fortunately, cities are already leading the way.
Moving Forward on Equitable and Sustainable Mobility in 2020
By Amanda Eaken Originally published on the NRDC Expert Blog.
Moving Forward on Equitable and Sustainable Mobility in 2020
To commemorate the end of this challenging year, I share this reflection from one of my colleagues, Alfonso Directo Jr. Despite being an incredibly tough year full of intersecting crises, city and community leaders across the nation have rallied over the last 12 months to advance policies that both tackle climate change and help catalyze a just recovery from the global pandemic.
Honolulu’s New Bus-Only Lane Puts People and Climate First
Honolulu has rolled out the red carpet for public transit with its brand new bus-only lane, the city’s first in 30 years. Now, the most sustainable and safe form of transportation will move people faster and more reliably, too.
How COVID is paving the way for participatory transit planning
VOICES By Amanda Eaken on Oct 28, 2020 at 12:39 pm The world of the possible Subscribe to Shift Happens Amanda Eaken is a transportation policy expert at the Natural Resources Defense Council, the transportation director for the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge, and vice chair of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors. She lives in San Francisco. As a transportation advocate, it’s weird to work from home.
This is the moment to reimagine public transportation
Back in April, the city of Seattle temporarily closed off nearly 20 miles of streets to most vehicular traffic in order to let residents bike, walk, jog and skate at a safe social distance during the height of the city’s COVID-19 pandemic. Seattle’s Stay Healthy Streets program was designed to encourage people to travel to essential services and small local businesses — or just to get outside for exercise or fun — at a time when many people felt anxious about doing so.
This Is the Moment to Reimagine Public Transportation
Back in April, the City of Seattle temporarily closed off nearly 20 miles of streets to most vehicular traffic in order to let residents bike, walk, jog, and skate at a safe social distance during the height of the city’s COVID-19 pandemic. Seattle’s Stay Healthy Streets program was designed to encourage people to travel to essential services and small local businesses—or just to get outside for exercise or fun—at a time when many people felt anxious about doing so.
A high-speed train gets us the future we want. California should get on board
The future is important to Californians. Join experts and leaders for the California Influencers Series The Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee, San Luis Obispo Tribune and Merced Sun-Star will focus on the policy challenges that most affect our community and our future. By Up Next The Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee, San Luis Obispo Tribune and Merced Sun-Star will focus on the policy challenges that most affect our community and our future.
A high-speed train gets us the future we want. California should get on board
The future is important to Californians. Join experts and leaders for the California Influencers Series The Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee, San Luis Obispo Tribune and Merced Sun-Star will focus on the policy challenges that most affect our community and our future. By Up Next The Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee, San Luis Obispo Tribune and Merced Sun-Star will focus on the policy challenges that most affect our community and our future.
A high-speed train gets us the future we want. California should get on board
The future is important to Californians. Join experts and leaders for the California Influencers Series The Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee, San Luis Obispo Tribune and Merced Sun-Star will focus on the policy challenges that most affect our community and our future. By Up Next The Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee, San Luis Obispo Tribune and Merced Sun-Star will focus on the policy challenges that most affect our community and our future.
A high-speed train gets us the future we want. California should get on board
The future is important to Californians. Join experts and leaders for the California Influencers Series The Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee, San Luis Obispo Tribune and Merced Sun-Star will focus on the policy challenges that most affect our community and our future. By Up Next The Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee, San Luis Obispo Tribune and Merced Sun-Star will focus on the policy challenges that most affect our community and our future.
A high-speed train gets us the future we want. California should get on board
The future is important to Californians. Join experts and leaders for the California Influencers Series The Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee, San Luis Obispo Tribune and Merced Sun-Star will focus on the policy challenges that most affect our community and our future. By Up Next The Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee, San Luis Obispo Tribune and Merced Sun-Star will focus on the policy challenges that most affect our community and our future.
What’s Good for the Climate Is Good for People in Their Everyday Lives
And right now, cities are offering up the best examples. Cyclists and pedestrians in downtown San Jose, California Stephen Lam for NRDC There’s a common misconception that to reach our environmental goals, we’ll have to make certain sacrifices—do less of this, consume less of that. But right now, 25 cities across America are proving the opposite. Many of the steps they’re currently taking to curb emissions, cut pollution, and make our communities more sustainable aren’t sacrifices at all.
Challenge Cities On Track to Beat Their Paris Climate Target
Together, the programs and policies supported by the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge in the 25 participating cities are expected to reduce carbon emissions by at least 40 million metric tons by 2025. That impact is equivalent to taking 10 coal-fired power plants offline, or 8.5 million cars off the road for a year.
Honolulu Commits to Leading the Fight Against Climate Change
Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Natural Resources Defense Council today announced Honolulu will be among the 20 winning cities in the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge. Honolulu’s selection reflects that their city leaders understand their biggest environmental challenges and want to solve them.
Four West Coast Winners Announced in City Climate Challenge
Four West Coast cities are committing to major leadership roles in the fight against climate change. Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Natural Resources Defense Council today announced that Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and Portland, Oregon, are among the 20 winning cities in the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge. These cities were selected because they understand their biggest environmental challenges and want to solve them.
Los Angeles Shared-Mobility Climate and Equity Action Plan
Technology-enabled shared mobility options—from Uber, Zipcar, and other car-based services, to shared bikes and scooters—are changing how our cities move. But what is less clear is if these travel modes are helping the environment while providing more accessible mobility options for all—or if they might in fact add more traffic to busy streets and exacerbate air pollution and urban sprawl.
A Way to Move New York Forward
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is set January 3 to formally unveil his agenda for 2018 and he’s almost certain to touch on the dire need to invest in the public transportation system that has long been New York City’s lifeblood and great equalizer. There is now overwhelming consensus that the city’s famous subway system is showing its age due to the neglect of the past 20+ years.
We Sued and Administration Backs Down on Transportation Rule
In the face of lawsuits it couldn’t win, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has lifted its suspension of a greenhouse gas (GHG) measure for transportation, via this notice, which will be published in the Federal Register Thursday. Without notice or comment, in clear violation of the Administrative Procedure Act, FHWA had illegally suspended the measure on May 19, 2017.
States Sue Administration Over Clean Transportation Rule
A coalition of eight states has filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s decision to suspend a federal clean transportation rule. The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of California, parallels litigation filed by NRDC, Clean Air Carolina, and US PIRG in late July. The full list of plaintiffs includes California, the California Air Resources Board, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota by and through Minnesota DOT, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.
We CAN Solve America’s Traffic Nightmare
As L.A. residents lose an average of 104 hours to traffic every year, the region is exploring a supply-and-demand payment system for using congested roads. It’s simple economics. If you’ve stood in an endlessly long line for a free doughnut or burrito during a fast-food promotion, you get it. If you’ve avoided that kind of scene, you get it, too. What on a normal day would be a manageable wait time turns into a queue down the block.
What Could You Do with Another 100 Hours a Year?
If you’ve been in Los Angeles recently, you may have noticed—while stuck in traffic along Olympic, Sunset or Sawtelle—some colorful new billboards reminding you of all of the great things you could be doing if your eyes weren’t fixed on those signs while at a standstill. The billboards aren’t meant to frustrate you further.
We’re Suing to Defend a Key Transportation Rule
NRDC today leads a coalition in challenging the Trump Administration’s latest assault on the environment. We are suing to defend and protect a key rule issued by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)—a performance standard for measuring and limiting carbon pollution from transportation sources.
Dirty Trucks Provision Undermines CA Transportation Package
California Governor Jerry Brown, Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon today announced a package to fund road repairs, as well as investments in transit, and bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements. After a last-minute, backroom deal, however, the package now includes troubling language that would allow dirty diesel trucks to continue polluting our communities indefinitely.
Opening the Door on Earth Day to a Historic Clean Transportation Rule
Each year, the U.S. pumps billions of dollars into building more highways and roads but the states and cities that benefit have never been asked to measure how much carbon pollution the cars and trucks that use those roads help generate. In the home stretch of President Obama’s push to combat climate change, the White House has proposed a new rule to require just that. It’s part of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, known as MAP-21.
NRDC Urban Solutions to Lead First Climate Analysis of Uber and Lyft
I am excited to announce that NRDC Urban Solutions will be partnering with Professor Susan Shaheen and her colleagues at UC Berkeley's Transportation Sustainability Research Center (TSRC) on the first-ever climate impacts analysis of the ridesourcing/transportation network companies (TNCs), Uber and Lyft. Generous support from the Hewlett Foundation and the San Francisco County Transportation Authority is enabling this work[1].
Pope's Climate Week visit adds imperative to the growing progress on climate
The day before the Pope landed in Washington for his first visit to America, a study was released showing that California environmental regulations decreased the risk of cancer from air pollution by 70% over a 23-year period.
Here's how we can cut petroleum dependence: use the Transportation Special Session to give Californians real transportation choices
Anyone who watched the Governor's press conference last night about amendments to SB 350 knows that the Governor, pro Tem de León and Speaker Atkins are more bullish than ever about cutting our dependence on petroleum. And here's the good news: we have a perfect opportunity to do so, right now.
Ride sharing can help state meet climate-change goals
The sharing economy – the idea that we can access goods and services more affordably and with less effort by sharing the costs and responsibility with others – is taking hold, especially in transportation. PricewaterhouseCoopers predicts the global sharing economy could grow to as much as $335 billion in the next 10 years.
Remaking California's Transportation System for People and Their Environment (Audio)
It's all here, in audio format - a brief but compelling bit of context on how the nation's most populous state is attempting to change what it and every other state has been doing for over half a century -- building transportation systems for cars instead of people. NRDC Urban Solutions put the piece together with the help of Jeff Wood of the Overhead Wire, whose narration you hear.
All-star line-up on the opportunities of shared-use mobility in California
I'll admit that "shared-use mobility" is a bit of a buzz word that can be hard to fully grasp. That's why we asked Dr. Susan Shaheen--one of the world's leading experts on the subject-- from UC Berkeley's Transportation Sustainability Research Center to walk through its definitions and impacts at a recent legislative briefing on shared-use mobility in Sacramento.
Serial Part III: We know where the transportation money is going, and we're not impressed ... yet
Money talks. It sways decisions and alters behavior, from the choices we make at the grocery store to how often we turn off the lights when leaving a room. Such decisions can have long-lasting effects, which is why the way we spend our money is so important. The same is true for transportation projects at the city, regional and state level. The way we allocate funding for these projects sets priorities and sends signals to the traveling public about how they should move around their communities.
Part two of our serial: Caltrans and sustainability get friendly
"Sustainability is often misconstrued as only an environmental issue," says Steven Cliff, the sustainability assistant director for California's Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Do you agree? Listen to an interview with Cliff in the second installment in our series on California's transportation transformation. If Caltrans is indeed going to get serious about sustainability, it has to set goals, shift funding, and align policies. Caltrans has made the first step, and in a big way.
Listen to our new serial: California's transportation transformation
In a state struggling with infrastructure costs, furiously figuring out how we can pay for road maintenance, and working towards achieving ambitious climate goals that require a reduction in car travel...we're still building more roads. Slowly but surely, that is starting to change. The state is shifting direction to transportation that will better serve people, the economy, and the environment. Did you know that transportation makes up 40% of California's greenhouse gas emissions?
Car(e)-free 17 days and counting
My recent decision to sell my car got some re-postings on the internet, and helped to draw attention to something very near to my heart - the first-ever Live.Ride.Share shared-use mobility conference in Southern California. But ditching the old Prius wasn't something I did rashly. It was based on a lot of evidence and serious thought. The average cost to own and operate a car in America, for example, is nearly $9,000 every year, according to AAA.
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