Tackle transit

Re “Virginia Beach’s $17 million street improvement project makes big difference for nightlife in the ViBe district” (Oct. 30): Virginia Beach now enjoys a more walkable and enjoyable ViBe Creative District. More street lighting and wider sidewalks brings the community downtown and boosts local businesses amid this economic crisis. Alongside pedestrian improvements, Hampton Roads Transit has replaced dirty diesel buses with six electric buses on their busiest route between Virginia Beach and Norfolk. These changes showcase simple benefits to transforming the way we get around. When carbon-free transportation is made accessible, it will be used.

Virginia’s transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state. Alongside that, pollution from our transportation system is getting Virginians sick.

To transition to a zero carbon transportation system, we need to electrify all new cars by 2035, electrify our school and transit buses, and double the number of people traveling by foot, bike, or public transit by 2030. With cities like Virginia Beach taking major steps toward walking, biking and electric buses, it’s time to turn our focus to electric vehicles.

The next legislative session is around the corner, and the General Assembly must prioritize electrifying transportation. We need policies like advanced clean car standards and purchase incentives, which will give Virginians access to clean cars. Our elected officials must tackle the problem at the tailpipe if we’re going to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

Brenna Reagan, Richmond