Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP)

Urban Form, Land Use & Transportation The movement of goods and services is central to Ashland’s economy and community—and one of the largest GHG-emitting sectors. Emissions from the transportation sector made up nearly one-quarter (23%) of the city’s total emissions in 2015. Residential on-road vehicle use accounts for nearly three-quarters of the sector’s emissions, followed by residential air travel. While emissions from buildings have decreased markedly since 2011, transportation emissions have seen no significant change. This speaks to the challenge of reducing emissions from vehicles, the vast majority of which burn fossil fuels and, unlike buildings, are difficult to retrofit in ways that improve their efficiency or reduce GHG emissions. While electric vehicles are becoming more available and affordable, near-term progress on reducing Ashland’s transportation-related emissions can focus on reducing reliance on personal vehicles by improving public transit access and convenience, and by improving urban design to support higher densities while keeping housing affordable. Also worth noting are potential climate-driven impacts on alternative forms of transportation. With increased temperatures and wildfire-induced smoke, biking and walking may become more hazardous and thus increase reliance on vehicles. Addressing challenges like these is crucial to improving the resilience and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions footprint of Ashland’s transportation. Climate change also puts Ashland’s infrastructure at greater risk of damage or destruction. More frequent and severe wildfires and floods may threaten roads, bridges, and real estate, and hotter summers may increase the rate of deterioration of some building materials. Culverts and road crossings may not be sized to withstand increased flooding, and roads bordering rivers and streams may be at risk of inundation. The City, its residents, and private property owners will need to work together to reduce the risks that extreme weather events pose to Ashland’s infrastructure. Progress to Date Ashland has made strides in incorporating climate and sustainability priorities into its land-use policies. Many of Ashland’s existing plans and standards address activities that contribute toward emissions from the transportation sector, including the Transportation System Plan, local land use code, and Comprehensive Plan. Some examples of climate-friendly actions and requirements in these plans are: • Street standards and street classifications in the Transportation System Plan promote shared streets that incorporate infrastructure for people walking, biking, and riding mass transit. • The City’s Comprehensive Plan and street standards highlight connectivity as a requirement in new development. • The City’s land use code has a “Pedestrian Places” component, which encourages the creation of walkable mixed-use areas that “encourage walking, bicycling, and transit use.” 62 ASHLAND CLIMATE & ENERGY ACTION PLANURBAN FORM, LAND USE & TRANSPORTATION62