San Diego ranks among best cities for clean transit
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
San Diego is among the nation's top metro areas limiting transportation's impact on greenhouse gas emissions, according to a recent report.
Why it matters: Transportation is the biggest driver of greenhouse gas emissions nationwide and particularly in San Diego County, where vehicles account for more than two-thirds of smog-forming emissions.
State of play: The San Diego metro area was sixth overall on a new index that ranks the 100 biggest U.S. cities on a variety of transportation-related emissions factors.
- San Jose, New York and San Francisco metro areas were the top cities for clean transit.
Between the lines: The Transportation Climate Impact Index, created by transit-analysis firm StreetLight Data, looks at overall vehicle miles traveled, fuel efficiency, electric vehicles, transit ridership, cycling, walking and truck miles traveled.
- These metrics help identify areas for improvement and where ongoing efforts are impactful.
By the numbers: The San Diego metro area ranked fourth in electric-vehicle adoption and daily walking trips, and fifth in biking activity and truck miles traveled.
- It ranked 26th in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) — the top contributor to an area's emissions and most heavily weighted — and 46th for VMT change from 2022-23.
- San Diego's transit ridership and fuel economy ranked 12th and 13th, respectively.
Zoom in: San Diego is working to reach net-zero emissions by 2035, in part by embracing EVs and shifting commutes away from cars and towards bicycles, public transit or walking.
- The city plans to reduce its VMT through a proposed mobility master plan that is currently out for public feedback. The City Council will likely consider it in the fall.
- The plan outlines infrastructure, technology and land-use changes, like adding stoplights, along with new bike lanes and public transit routes.
Meanwhile, the city is working to bolster its EV-charging network and electrify its fleet.
- The Metropolitan Transit System and San Diego Unified School District both are rolling out electric buses.
Reality check: Despite its progress, the city needs to double biking, walking and transit commuting by 2030 to meet its goals.
What we're watching: San Diego voters in November decide the fate of a sales tax increase for transportation projects throughout the county.