California agency leaders meet with Freight Advisory Committee

Working toward the implementation of Gov. Jerry Brown’s executive order to create a Sustainable Freight Strategy, state officials met with the California Freight Advisory Committee on Tuesday at their July meeting.

"Freight transportation contributes significantly to poor air quality in California and is a particular burden to disadvantaged communities," Secretary for Environmental Protection Matthew Rodriquez said. "Developing a sustainable freight strategy that transitions to zero-emission technologies is a key element of our efforts both to improve public health and reduce the carbon pollution that causes climate change."

The state’s Transportation, Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Agencies have been tasked with creating this plan by July 2016. While freight-dependent industries in the state generate $700 billion in revenue and create millions of jobs, the system is also responsible for a significant portion of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. An executive order signed by Brown requires the state agencies to create a new strategy in line with its air quality and climate goals.

“If we want to effectively protect the environment and simultaneously make the movement by people and of goods easier, while expanding economic competitiveness, we must have one integrated freight strategy,” California State Transportation Agency Secretary Brian Kelly said. “The hard work of developing that plan begins today.”