Transportation & Air Quality

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Low-Carbon Mobility

The rapid increase in development and urban density continuously puts pressure on Tempe’s car-centric culture. Considering transportation accounts for 43% of Tempe’s Community GHG emissions, actions need to be taken to reduce emissions in our transportation network. Enhancing and adding new public transit options will allow people to be connected without single-occupancy vehicles and the associated GHG emissions.

Investments in low-carbon mobility can lead to

reduced air pollution
reduced health risks associated with vehicle carbon emissions
decreased traffic congestion
reduced deaths and serious injuries from vehicle crashes (in line with Tempe’s Vision Zero initiative).

Ultimately, investing in public transit leads to an increase in overall quality of life in urban areas. It is instrumental to have a strong public transportation network in a sustainable city to ease congestion and to connect community hubs. Tempe intends to create a multimodal transportation system to support sustainable, accessible, and low-carbon means of travel.

Transportation performance measures

Carbon Neutrality (4.19)
“Achieve the City Council goal of carbon neutrality in municipal operations by 2050 with a strategy of 100% renewable energy by 2035.”

Baseline (2015): 40,670 metric tons
Target: Carbon Neutral by 2050
Current: 39,657 metric tons

20-minute city (3.26)
“Achieve a multimodal transportation system (20-minute city) where residents can walk, bicycle or use public transit to meet all basic daily, non-work needs.”

Baseline: under development
Target: under development
Current: Unavailable

Traffic Delay Reduction (3.27)
“Achieve a Travel Time Index average at or below 1.25 along major streets during rush hour traffic with no individual segments exceeding 2.0”

Baseline (2019):
City Average (A.M.): 1.23 / City Average (P.M.): 1.40 / Segments > 2.0 (A.M.): 1 / Segments > 2.5 (P.M.): 15
Target(2033):
City Average (A.M.): 1.25 / City Average (P.M.): 1.25 / Segments > 0 (A.M.): 1 / Segments > 2.5 (P.M.): 0
Current: Unavailable

Transportation System Satisfaction (3.29)
“Achieve ratings of “Very Satisfied” or “Satisfied” with the “Overall Satisfaction with Transit System in Tempe” greater than or equal to 80% as measured by the City of Tempe Transit Survey.”

Baseline: 69% (2016)
Current: 58%
Target: 80% by 2024

What the City is Doing

Program Highlight

Mobility Hubs and TDM/TMA

Tempe applied for funds from the Maricopa Association of Governments to conduct a plan for a new system of Mobility Hubs in Tempe. Mobility Hubs will create a network of locations that provide residents and visitors with transportation choices that can reduce the amount of single occupancy vehicle trips. Mobility Hubs are a type of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategy. TDM strategies can reduce vehicle miles traveled. Just a 10% reduction in car usage during peak travel times exponentially decreases traffic congestion and the damaging environmental impacts that result. Tempe’s TMA Plan will include an operations plan for a new organization to assist and partner with the business community in TDM efforts.

What's Next

20-Minute City

Tempe will continue to determine gaps in Tempe’s 20-minute city network and potential ways to improve the City of Tempe’s 20-minute city performance.

Streetcar Extension Feasibility Study

Tempe will collaborate with Valley Metro and City of Mesa to determine potential extensions of the Tempe Streetcar.

Electrification

Electric Vehicles are critical to a clean energy future. Tempe is increasing electric vehicles in municipal operations which the public can use. Tempe will continue to invest in electric vehicles (EV) and EV charging and is pursuing an EV feasibility study to determine where charging stations can go throughout the city. [YT2] [NA3]

Additional Resources

One of the first steps to achieve a sustainable city is to change the car-centric culture that causes traffic congestion and pollution. To reduce dependence on vehicle trips, and their associated GHG emissions, we must prioritize investments in alternative forms of transportation, especially considering transportation is the second biggest contributor to GHG emissions in Tempe.

Learn more about how you, as a resident or as a business, can support Tempe in creating a multi-modal transportation network.

Light Rail

Bike

Grants

Listen

What You Can Do

Resident

We can create a 20-minute city by investing in alternative transportation and public transit.

City Collaboration

Participate in Tempe’s effort to create a multi-modal transportation network.

Discover Tempe's extensive public transit system.
Tempe youth can ride all buses and light rail for free with a Youth Transit Pass.
Get on the GRID bikeshare.
Connect to local destinations for free with Orbit.
Look at Vision Zero, a data-driven traffic safety policy to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes to zero in Tempe.
Residents can participate in community-wide carbon reduction goals that are part of Tempe’s Climate Action Plan by finding ways to reduce their transportation emissions.
Residents are encouraged to share feedback on upcoming transportation projects by contacting the Council Communicator in support of alternative transportation and public transit.
Stay current by subscribing to “Tempe Streets” or “Tempe Transit” emails.
Learn more about Tempe’s 15-member, Council appointed Transportation Commission. The Commission ensures that the city has a balanced transportation system that incorporates all forms of transportation in an interconnected manner, while creating a forum for residents to provide input on transportation plans, projects, and issues.

Individual Actions

Search for ways you can counteract the car-centric culture.

Residents, employees, and visitors are encouraged to use alternate forms of sustainable transportation when able, such as light rail, bus, biking, or walking.
Discover the 215+ miles of Tempe’s multi-use paths and bikeways.
Here are some tips to be more fuel-efficient when driving is necessary.
If you have an electric vehicle (EV), click here to find an EV charging station or download the Blink mobile app.

Business

Convenient and accessible transportation connects residents to businesses in the resilient urban center.

Learn about Transportation Demand Management. Tempe will be creating this program soon as one of the transportation actions in our Climate Action Plan.
Look at Vision Zero, a data-driven traffic safety policy to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes to zero in Tempe.
Contact the Council Communicator in support of investments in public transit and alternative transportation.

If your business has 5 or more employees, purchase Platinum Passes for your employees and work with a Valley Metro representative for further assistance.

City of Tempe, AZ

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