For immediate release
Friday, May 14, 2021
Governor Newsom’s proposals for historic investments in clean transportation, if adopted by the Legislature, would bring Californians much closer to a future of clean mobility for all. We should be able to move people and goods without inflicting lasting damage on our lungs and our climate, and this budget funds a transformation in transportation.
We particularly appreciate the Governor’s emphasis on investing in the disadvantaged communities that are most burdened by pollution and poverty. Cleaning up the transit buses, school buses, and heavy-duty trucks in those communities will help residents to breathe easier. In addition, investing in California’s burgeoning zero-emission vehicle industry will create high-quality jobs for workers who install charging infrastructure and hydrogen stations and manufacture clean trucks, buses, and cars in our state.
Although the Governor is rightfully making a multi-year commitment to the successful Clean Cars 4 All project, which helps low-income drivers to replace old polluting cars with advanced clean cars, the demand for CC4A and other transportation equity projects is higher than the amount in his budget, so we call on the Legislature to allocate $500 million in 2021-’22.
Gov. Newsom’s budget gives crucial and needed support to our public transit systems. Investing in bus and rail infrastructure will help Californians to reach our destinations without fighting gridlock on congested roads. The budget also supports communities that make walking and biking safer and more convenient.
We urge the Legislature to work with the Governor to enact historic investments in clean transportation in the 2021-’22 budget.
Bill Magavern
916-214-0065