Last week, New York City took a big first step towards reimagining street space to promote efficient and sustainable transportation. After years of advocacy, Manhattan’s 14th street busway went into effect. The busway is a pilot program that prioritizes transit and pedestrian traffic. Only buses and trucks are allowed to drive between 3rd and 9th Avenues. 

We are releasing our NYC priorities as part of our 2019-2020 City Policy Agenda. We’re focusing on Combating Climate Change and Protecting People & Natural Resources.

Earlier this month, President Trump unleashed yet another attack on the effort to head-off climate change by rolling back auto emissions regulations known as California Clean Cars. New York and 22 other states joined California in suing to stop the rollback.

A few communities in New York State are working on electric school bus pilot programs. As part of our Clean Buses for Healthy Niños campaign, we’re tracking these ongoing and upcoming pilot programs across New York State.

Last year, New York City Council Member Espinal spearheaded a pilot program for electric school buses, however, the buses are still not on the road. We organized a press conference with New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and the Council Member to urge the NYC Department of Education to clean its school bus fleet.

A City Council bill that requires a transition to clean school buses would improve air quality and protect children’s health.

Slowly but surely, school districts across the country are initiating programs to introduce electric school buses as a cleaner way for students to get to school.