There is currently a heated policy debate over a part of the New Jersey Turnpike across from Lower Manhattan (circled in the image above). The Turnpike Authority has proposed replacing and expanding this stretch of road. The governor supports it, but most local politicians oppose it. This article argues against the Turnpike expansion, detailing its environmental harms and instead calling for investment in transit, cycling, and walking. It is published by The Jersey Journal in conjunction with nj.com, which are publications from the area of this part of the Turnpike.
The article specifically responds to an argument made by the governor about electric vehicles. The governor points out that by the time the Turnpike expansion opens, many vehicles will be electric. That is undoubtedly true. However, it does not render the Turnpike expansion environmentally benign. The article presents eight reasons why the Turnpike expansion is still environmentally harmful despite vehicle electrification. The environmental harms include local air pollution in New Jersey, pollution in other locations from across the vehicle lifecycle, and the global effects of climate change.
This article continues GCRI’s shift toward solution-oriented public outreach as outlined in our 2022 Annual Report. It follows our recent article New York’s housing plans must address affordability-& climate change. Both articles integrate global catastrophic risk into an active policy debate. They address concerns held by people active in the debate in a way that may help to advance policy decisions that reduce global catastrophic risk while having other benefits. This approach draws on GCRI’s work on solutions & strategy.
The article was covered in Streetsblog NYC.
Image credit: Famartin
