California must invest in clean air

For decades California’s communities living next to freeways and ports have breathed some of the nation’s worst air. Instead of doubling down on highway widening projects that add more truck traffic near communities, it’s time for a different approach.

Tell your legislators to vote “AYE” on AB 2535, the Invest in Clean Air Act

Tell your legislators to vote “AYE” on AB 2535, the Invest in Clean Air Act, to prioritize transportation investments that support clean air and don’t fuel climate change.

Heavy traffic on a highway in California.

Jeff Wilcox via Flickr, CC BY 4.0

For decades, California’s communities living next to freeways and ports have breathed some of the nation’s worst air. Instead of doubling down on highway widening projects that add more truck traffic near communities, it’s time for a different approach.

Assembly Member Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) introduced AB 2535 to increase investments in zero emissions vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure. With AB 2535, California could invest approximately over $1 billion over the next decade in charging infrastructure for zero emissions trucks and trains.

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Your Message

Subject Vote ‘AYE’ on AB 2535, Invest in Clean Air

Dear California legislator:

Message Body

I urge you to vote ‘AYE’ on AB 2535, the Invest in Clean Air Act by Assembly Member Mia Bonta (D - Oakland) to align California’s transportation investments with our climate and equity goals. We can’t achieve these goals by continuing to invest in transportation projects that increase carbon emissions and air pollution.

AB 2535 supports investment in shifting the dirtiest diesel trucks and trains to zero emissions, which will get California on track for clean air and climate goals and reduce the impacts of lung-searing smog and fine particle pollution. The bill does this by modernizing the Transportation Corridor Enhancement Program, which was established to fund improvements along goods movement corridors. Passing this bill would transform the state's most-polluting transportation funding program into an engine for clean transportation progress.

The status quo is not working, especially for Black, Latino, Indigenous, and Asian and Pacific Islander communities. These communities are disproportionately impacted by dangerous pollution from our transportation system. California has too often funded highway and freeway projects that created barriers between people and parks, schools, grocery stores, churches, hospitals, and other critical amenities—and even directly displacing more than 10,000 Californians over the past several decades.

It doesn’t make sense to continue putting the same amount of funding toward more truck-filled lanes of traffic next to communities already living with the impacts of freeways through their neighborhoods. The American Lung Association gave 30 California counties an “F” grade for high ozone days, and 41 counties an “F” for particle pollution. California cities also occupy each of the top four worst rankings in both year-round particle pollution and ozone pollution.

In addition to these health impacts from transportation, the stakes for climate change couldn’t be higher. The California Air Resources Board’s newest greenhouse gas analysis showed that the transportation sector generates 39% of California’s greenhouse gas emissions, the biggest source of climate pollution in the state. Of that, the vast majority is on-road transportation—cars, large freight trucks, and everything in-between.

I urge you to advance California’s climate, health, and equity goals by supporting and voting “AYE” on AB 2535.

Thank you.

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