The transportation action team is focused on working collaboratively with Minnesotans to identify and advance policies and strategies that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector in both the near-term and years to come.

If you or your organization would like to participate in this work, please reach out to our team contacts listed below.

We want to hear from you: share your ideas for climate solutions for transportation using this online comment form.

In summer 2021, we'll host a conversation about [topic] as part of the Our Minnesota Climate forum series. Stay tuned to the Get involved page or sign up for Our Minnesota Climate email updates for more information.

 

Recent work

In 2020, the new transportation action team began by:

  • reviewing existing state and regional plans for climate and transportation in Minnesota
  • scoring a list of policy recommendations based on equity and potential greenhouse gas emission reductions
  • ranking recommendations based on the impact scores

Our public engagement in the fall of 2020 focused on gathering input about these potential solutions through an online survey, comment form, and a virtual listening session.

We learned that stakeholders want to see:

  • transportation solutions that address and prioritize equity
  • a more robust strategy for reducing vehicle miles traveled
  • more support for non-motorized transportation options, including funding to support active transportation modes like biking and walking

Based on this feedback, we added to and refined our list of potential actions and strategies, available here: Potential transportation-specific climate change policies

 

Background

Our team is focused on advancing solutions for the transportation sector that will meet the goals of the Climate Change Executive Order and align with Minnesota statutes (174.01), including:

  • ensure that the planning and implementation of all modes of transportation are consistent with the environmental and energy goals of the state
  • promote and increase the use of high-occupancy vehicles and low-emission vehicles
  • reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the state's transportation sector

Our work includes policy research and development, technical analysis, and exploring implementation of policies and strategies.

 

Portrait of Tim Sexton

Team chair

Tim Sexton
Assistant Commissioner
Minnesota Department of Transportation
timothy.sexton@state.mn.us, 651-366-3622

 

Team lead

Siri Simons
Principal Sustainability Planner
Minnesota Department of Transportation
siri.simons@state.mn.us, 651-366-4834

 

Team members

  • Arrowhead Regional Development Commission
  • Metropolitan Council
  • Dept. of Administration
  • Dept. of Commerce
  • Dept. of Health
  • Dept. of Transportation
  • Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
  • Pollution Control Agency

For more information about transportation and sustainability in Minnesota, visit the Minnesota Department of Transportation website: Sustainability and public health