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Comment 86 for Transportation Comments for the GHG Scoping Plan (sp-transport-ws) - 1st Workshop.
First Name: Ed
Last Name: Porter
Email Address: eporter95@aol.com
Affiliation: Santa Cruz City Council
Subject: Large potential to reduce ghg emissions ignored in draft
Comment:
In Santa Cruz, it is estimated that forty percent of our GHG emissions come from automobiles. I have seen estimates up to sixty percent. Santa Cruz is considering a way to divert a significant number of our existing auto trips, mostly Single Occupant Vehicles (SOV), into a clean form of transportation powered by electricity obtained from solar panels. By doing so, a relatively rapid reduction of up to 10% of our total GHG emissions could take place. Additional reductions could be expected as the transportation system expands. That system is Personal Rapid Transit (PRT). Santa Cruz has authorized the publication of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to determine what vendors are qualified to develop and install such a PRT system. The idea of Californis cities taking a serious look at PRT was presented to the Economic and Technology Advancement Advisory Committee (ETAAC). As one comment already pointed out, the ETAAC final report acknowledged the potential of PRT. The GHG Scoping Plan should continue that concept. The GHG Scoping Plan needs to: 1. Acknowledge the good potential of PRT powered by soalr generated electricity to cause an early reduction in GHG emissions. 2. Recommend resources for cities to initiate small PRT programs in focussed areas of automobile gridlock where high levels of sov drivers can readily be attracted to PRT transportation. 3. Recommend accelerated State certification processes for emerging PRT designs. 4. Recommend seed funding programs for cities to commence acquisition of PRT systems. 5. Recommend the development of a pro-forma business plan that cities can use to acquire and operate a PRT system.
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Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2008-08-18 09:34:59
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