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Net Zero Transportation Plan

Image of an MBTA bus in Porter Square

The City of Cambridge is creating a Net Zero Transportation Plan (NZTP). This plan will help remove greenhouse gas emissions from transportation in Cambridge. It will help our community fight climate change.
 
The City Council set a goal for Cambridge to use only renewable energy by 2035 and reach zero emissions by 2050. We already have two Net Zero plans in action. The Net Zero Action Plan, which removes emissions from buildings, and the Zero Waste Master Plan, which removes emissions from our waste system. The NZTP is the third part of our climate strategy.

Click here to see draft actions

For more information, contact Stephanie Groll at sgroll@cambridgema.gov. Use this form to give general input and suggestions on the Net Zero Transportation Plan: https://bit.ly/CambridgeNZTPFeedback.

If you would like to give input in another language, please call 617-865-2273, and City staff can answer your questions with the help of an interpreter over the phone.

Download fact sheet here

Project Details

What are the goals of the Net Zero Transportation Plan?

  • Remove climate pollution from transportation
  • Make moving around Cambridge more convenient and enjoyable
  • Improve economic opportunity and address historic injustices
  • Create a stronger and more connected community

Advisory Group Details

The City has formed an Advisory Group to make recommendations to guide the Net Zero Transportation Plan. The Advisory Group is composed of community organizations that serve or represent Cambridge residents. Our goal is to hear many voices that reflect a variety of experiences—especially those who have been underheard, underserved, and historically excluded in the past.

Advisory Group members will meet for 18 months to share their life experience and how that connects to mobility needs. They are raising issues that affect equity in transportation, as well as other challenges that impact people in their communities. The Advisory Group also learned about transportation issues that lead to climate change, and set guiding principles, are discussing options for strategies and actions, recommending preferred strategies to remove greenhouse gases from transportation, and proposing ways to measure success. Read more here about the purpose and activities of the Advisory Group.

Who are the members of the Advisory Group?

Residents and representatives of organizations in Cambridge. They are:

  • James Pierre, Adius Arts Initiative, Founder
  • Lonnell Wells, Cambridge Bike Giveback, Founder
  • Rachel Tanenhaus, Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities, ADA Coordinator/Executive Director
  • Omriqui Thomas, Cambridge Public Schools Student
  • Yao Wu, Chinese American Association of Cambridge, Member
  • Nora Sears, De Novo Center for Justice and Healing, Volunteer and Training Coordinator (replaced Elizabeth Brusie, Assistant Legal Director)
  • Ibrahim Omar, Islamic Society of Boston Cambridge, Operations Integration Analyst
  • Guerlancia Laurent, Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House, Community Liaison and Adult Enrichment Coordinator
  • Angela Vierling-Classen, North Cambridge resident
  • Farris Blount, Cambridge Black Pastor's Alliance, Junior Pastor (expired appointment)
  • Ali Sorrels, Cambridge Women's Center, Co-Director, Operations & Administration (expired appointment)
  • Ben Engle, Food For Free, Chief Operations Officer (expired appointment)

Process Equity

The Advisory Group recognizes that an equitable process for developing the Plan:

  1. Is guided by community voices.
  2. Is transparent.
  3. Prioritizes underserved, underheard, and historically excluded groups of people.
  4. Reduces harm.
  5. Builds long-term relationships.
  6. Is accessible.

Schedule

  • Update greenhouse gas emission inventory - 2019
  • Appoint Advisory Group (AG) - January 2023
  • AG Set up and learn - February to May 2023
  • AG Brainstorm and analyze - June 2023 to January 2024
  • AG Deliberate and build agreement - February to August 2024
  • AG Form a plan - September 2024 to January 2025
  • Release final plan - Early 2025
  • Community engagement - January 2024 to March 2025 (engagement includes input while we develop the plan and learning about it after final plan is released)

Upcoming Community Meetings

November 12, 2024, 6:30-8 pm via Zoom

November 13, 2024, 5:30-7 pm in-person at Citywide Senior Center (food provided)

(Same meeting, two attendance options - click for flyer in English, Amharic, Arabic, Bangla, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Spanish)

Click here for presentation

At these community meetings, we will:

  • Describe why the City is making this plan
  • Share the planning process
  • Discuss proposed draft actions
  • Listen to reflections from community members

Register for Zoom webinar: https://cbi-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqf--urTkuGtx4w5v-Ll4MAFRGz_eRoFDp#/registration

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

CART service will be provided at both community meetings. To request an interpreter for this event or for additional support accessing the materials or space, please contact the Language Access Manager at 617.349.4396 or accesshelp@cambridgema.gov.

Other Engagement Updates

Advisory Group Meeting 16

November 20, 2024 - 9:00 to 11:00 am

  • Agenda
  • Presentation (coming soon)

Location: In-person at 344 Broadway, 4th floor conference room, and hybrid via Zoom.

Contact: Stephanie Groll sgroll@cambridgema.gov, 617-349-4673

Register in advance for this webinar: https://cbi-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_U3UIK86rR6mW1GZfAnSKMg 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

The City of Cambridge does not discriminate, including on the basis of disability. We may provide auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures to people with disabilities. For more information contact Stephanie Groll at sgroll@cambridgema.gov, 617-349-4673 (voice), or via relay at 711.

Prior Meetings

Advisory Group Meeting 15

October 2, 2024 - 9:00 to 11:00 am

Advisory Group Meeting 14

July 31, 2024 - 9:00 to 11:00 am

Advisory Group Meeting 13

June 12, 2024 - 9:00 to 11:00 am

Advisory Group Meeting 12

May 29, 2024 - 9:00 to 11:00 am

Advisory Group Meeting 11

April 24, 2024 - 9:00 to 11:00 am

Advisory Group Meeting 10

March 27, 2024 - 9:00 to 11:30 am

Community Meetings - March 6, 2024 Via Zoom and March 7, 2024 In-Person at Citywide Senior Center

At these community meetings, City staff answered:

  • What is the planning process?
  • Why is the City doing this?
  • What will the plan do?
  • How will this affect community members?

Community members shared their thoughts on potential actions that could go into the plan.

Advisory Group Meeting 9

January 24, 2024

Advisory Group Meeting 8

November 29, 2023

Advisory Group Meeting 7

September 27, 2023

Advisory Group Meeting 6

August 9, 2023

Advisory Group Meeting 5

June 28, 2023

Advisory Group Meeting 4

May 31, 2023

Advisory Group Meeting 3

April 26, 2023

Advisory Group Meeting 2

March 29, 2023

Advisory Group Meeting 1

February 2, 2023

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