Personal Impact*

Waste Diversion               Climate Changers               Electricity               Zero-Carbon Energy               Solar PV              Compliance

Transportation

 

 

 

Transportation contributes 38 percent of Connecticut's economy-wide emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG). 

 

Significant reductions of GHG emissions are achievable by reducing the combustion of fossil fuels in the transportation sector, which will likely be achieved by increased fuel efficiency, increased use of mass transit, and the use of electric drive vehicles that operate on electricity or “green” hydrogen. Electric drive vehicles (EVs) include plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV), battery electric (BEV), electric motorcycles, and fuel cell electric (FCEV) vehicles.** While there has been substantial growth in EVs in the State, they currently account for less than one percent of all passenger vehicle registrations.⁷⁶

In December 2020, Governor Ned Lamont signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) committing to pursue “systematic and substantial reductions in motor vehicle pollution” through a cap and invest program with neighboring states and Washington DC. The multi-jurisdictional program would re-invest approximately $300 million each year in cleaner transit, modern infrastructure, and healthier communities.⁷⁷

In 2019, the average daily vehicle miles travelled (DVMT) remained high with an average of 24.3 miles per person. Since 2013, the DVMT has generally increased by approximately 2 percent, which is consistent with the increase in employment in the State, and the decrease of both gas prices and bus ridership depicted in the chart below. In the past, as residents drove more, gasoline consumption increased, which caused more air pollution. However, the trend over the last ten years suggests that even though driving (DVMT/capita) increased, gasoline consumption trended lower.⁷⁸  This is likely attributed to the use of more energy efficient cars, including zero-emission vehicles (EV). It is expected that the DVMT/capita will be lower in 2020 due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

Riding: People got on the bus less often in Connecticut in 2019.

In fiscal year (FY) 2020 (July 2019 through June 2020), ridership on fixed route, commuter, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transit services declined to the lowest ridership numbers since 2011. In FY 2020, the passenger trips*** per capita value was 9.54, which is approximately 15 percent lower than the ten-year average.⁷⁹  In late 2016, CTtransit fare prices were increased in eight transit service areas; however, the fare increase might not be the sole reason for the decline in ridership. Other factors for reduced transit trips in FY2020 include the impact of COVID 19, relatively low gasoline prices, and the success in ride sharing efforts. In Massachusetts, where ridesharing data is required by the state, rideshare companies provided over 91 million rides in 2019, approximately 12 percent more than in 2018 and 40.6 percent more than in 2017.  

_{Technical Note: *Personal Impact indicators illustrate trends in behavior or practices that can be expected to influence the condition of tomorrow’s air, water, land and wildlife. The vertical axis in the chart above has been shortened, beginning at 23.2 DVMT/capita rather than the customary zero. **Electric motorcycles and fuel cell electric vehicles are included in the total number of EVs registered in the State. “Green” hydrogen refers to the production of hydrogen from sources other than fossil fuel.  ***The number of passengers who board public transportation vehicles. Transit-oriented development, or TOD, could increase ridership.}

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⁷⁶ _{DEEP, Bureau of Air Management; personal communication from L. Corsino, February 2, 2021.}
⁷⁷ _{Governor Ned Lamont, Press Releases, December 21, 2020: portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2020/12-2020/Connecticut-Massachusetts-Rhode-Island-and-DC-Commit-To-Historic-Program-To-Reduce-Climate-Pollution}.
⁷⁸ _{EIA, Connecticut Total Gasoline All Sales per Deliveries by Prime Supplier Annual; www.eia.gov/opendata/qb.php?sdid=PET.C100011091.A}
⁷⁹ _{Connecticut Department of Transportation; personal communication from R. Almeida; January 29, 2021.}
⁸⁰ _{Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, “Rideshare in Massachusetts”, 2019 Data Report; tnc.sites.digital.mass.gov/.}