The Clean Cities Energy and Environmental Justice Initiative is a project designed by the Department of Energy and multiple national laboratories to empower communities throughout the nation for more equitable access to clean transportation options. The project centers around President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative that requires at least 40 percent of all federal benefits related to clean energy goes to “disadvantaged” communities. The initiative was put in place to guide the government in bringing equity to all parts of the country. ECC has been involved with CCEEJI from its inception and continues to be involved to this day with our work in South Queens.
We are currently assessing the needs of people in South Queens, with a hyper focus on the Rockaway and Springfield Gardens. Compared to other areas in New York City, South Queens, particularly South East Queens, faces significant transportation challenges. Many neighborhoods in South Queens have limited subway access, and only a few bus routes serve the area. For instance, traveling from the Rockaways, located in the farthest southern and eastern part of Queens, to Astoria, a northeast neighborhood in the borough, can take nearly two hours by public transportation. These transportation limitations in South Queens prompted our decision to focus on conducting a transportation study in these neighborhoods.
Our assessment is being developed in conjunction with community stakeholders. After compiling feedback throughout the communities we will release a report that will include potential projects to address some of the concerns of the transportation concerns of the communities.
We are currently assessing the needs of people in South Queens, with a hyper focus on the Rockaway and Springfield Gardens. Compared to other areas in New York City, South Queens, particularly South East Queens, faces significant transportation challenges. Many neighborhoods in South Queens have limited subway access, and only a few bus routes serve the area. For instance, traveling from the Rockaways, located in the farthest southern and eastern part of Queens, to Astoria, a northeast neighborhood in the borough, can take nearly two hours by public transportation. These transportation limitations in South Queens prompted our decision to focus on conducting a transportation study in these neighborhoods.
Our assessment is being developed in conjunction with community stakeholders. After compiling feedback throughout the communities we will release a report that will include potential projects to address some of the concerns of the transportation concerns of the communities.