$3M available for innovative solutions to improve New York transportation

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) announced $3 million in available funding for innovative proposals to improve the efficiency of New York’s transportation system while reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The announcement supports Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s nation-leading Green New Deal and supports the state’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030.

NYSERDA and NYSDOT will award the funding as part of a two-step competitive process. Applicants must first submit concept papers that illustrate proposals with broad application or impact across New York State, demonstrate new technologies, increase access to alternative modes of transportation, or make roads safer. Concept papers will be accepted through Oct. 30, 2019 and must center on innovative strategies in one of the following areas:

• Efficient mobility solutions: Projects to reduce transportation congestion and shift travel demand to more energy-efficient modes, such as public transportation, greater bicycle availability, and overall improvements in mobility for people and commercial goods.
• Efficient infrastructure, operations, and systems planning: Projects to increase transportation efficiency by optimizing operations, expanding transportation options, or employing technology-driven approaches that can improve and be integrated into larger infrastructure improvement initiatives.

NYSERDA and NYSDOT will undertake a competitive process to identify applicants with the best concept papers who will then be invited to submit proposals. Proposals will then be reviewed and selected to be awarded funding.

The transportation sector is one of the largest producers of energy related greenhouse gas emissions in New York State. NYSERDA and NYSDOT have collaborated on numerous projects that support new, innovative technologies and local initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The projects include:

• Supporting a tri-city commuter challenge in Westchester County, which resulted in employees in New Rochelle, White Plains, and Yonkers increasing their use of public transportation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Funding the Olli Bus, a self-driving electric shuttle, which is being tested at the University at Buffalo with a goal of replacing a gas-emitting student shuttle in the future.
• Launching a bike-share program in Ithaca and implementing plans to double the percentage of bike use in and around the city.

In addition to these projects, New York State has launched numerous initiatives as part of its overall clean transportation strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the Governor’s nation-leading clean energy and climate agenda. These initiatives are increasing the number of electric vehicles and charging stations in New York on a path to achieve Gov. Cuomo's Charge NY goal of 10,000 electric vehicle charging stations by the end of 2021. In fact New Yorkers bought more electric vehicles in one year than ever before — more than 16,000 electric vehicles were sold in 2018, about 60% more than in 2017. Major transportation initiatives include:

• The New York Power Authority’s commitment of up to $250 million through 2025 for EVolve NY, an initiative that partners with the private sector and other key stakeholders to address market gaps in charging infrastructure to accelerate EV adoption and deployment of fast chargers in high-traffic corridors across the state.
• NYSERDA's $5 million Charge Ready NY initiative, which provides $4,000 per vehicle charging port for public or private employers, building owners, municipalities, and non-profit organizations to install Level 2 charging stations, for a total of 1,250 new charging ports.
• The Department of Environmental Conservation’s availability of $300,000 for rebates to municipalities for the purchase or lease of electric vehicles.