REDUCING GREENHOUSE GASES W I T H S M A RT C H O I C E S

WHAT CAN WE DO TO ENCOURAGE PUBLIC TRANSIT USE? Poorly planned neighborhoods discourage transit use. We need to look at how our neighborhoods are designed.
Do they make it convenient to use public transit?

The design of neighborhoods also effects how much we walk or bike.

For example, do neighborhoods offer bike trails or walking paths?

URBAN SPRAWL IS NOT SMART GROWTH!

WHAT IS SMART GROWTH?

Smart Growth describes the efforts of many communities across America that try to manage growth to reduce the amount of damage on the environment while building livable towns and cities. Transit-Oriented Development: A model approach providing smart ideas for how communities can grow to achieve the goals above.

WHAT IS TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT?

Planned growth that encourages:
Mixed residential and business neighborhoods
Transit use, walking, and biking instead of driving Efficient land use
This picture shows a train stop located near businesses that are easy to get to by walking!

WHY TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT?

By building businesses and homes near transit sites, employees are more likely to use transit to get to work and run errands. More people using transit and walking =

lower CO2

BENEFITS OF INCREASED TRANSIT USE Reduced CO2 emissions Less congestion Better air quality Less sprawl
Urban sprawl encourages the use of personal vehicles. This means more greenhouse gas emissions.