The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) this week released its fifth annual Sustainability and Public Health Report that documents progress the agency has made toward its sustainability and climate goals.
The report is based on data through 2020 and now includes additional public health and transportation resilience measures. State statute directs MnDOT to reduce carbon pollution from transportation, prioritize walking, bicycling, transit, and meet the energy and environmental goals of the state.
Progress MnDOT has achieved since 2019 include: reduced emissions from MnDOT facilities by 39% (goal was 30% reduction); reduced water use at MnDOT by 27% (goal was 15% reduction); and converting nearly all highway lighting to LED (97% of goal reached).
“Transportation remains the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. and Minnesota, which is why MnDOT is committed to doing our part to create a low-carbon future for our state,” Tim Sexton, assistant commissioner and chief sustainability director, said in a statement. “This includes partnering with the external Sustainable Transportation Advisory Council and developing climate policy solutions through the Governor’s Climate Change Subcabinet and the internal MnDOT Sustainable Transportation Steering Committee.”
As much ground as MnDOT gained in 2020, the agency says it still has work to do. The agency is not on track to meet emission reduction goals for the transportation sector (goal is 30% by 2025). MnDOT says it also needs to include more transportation options on its projects and achieve the agency’s goal to meet 90% of needs for bicycling (currently at 62%). And it needs to reduce non-motorized serious injuries and fatalities (trending up in 2020).
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SOURCE: Minnesota DOT
