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Introduction <br />Reduced Traffic Congestion <br />Climate actions can reduce traffic congestion. <br />Cities such as New York, Stockholm, and London have implemented congestion pricing—charging tolls to travel in <br />designated urban areas during peak travel times to reduce the volume of traffic. Locally, the City/County Association <br />of Governments of San Mateo County and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority are partnering to build <br />the San Mateo 101 Express Lanes Project -22 miles of express lanes on U.S.101 from the San Mateo <br />County/Santa Clara County line to 1-380 in South San Francisco. Slated to be complete in 2022, the project is <br />designed to reduce traffic congestion and encourage carpooling and transit use on U.S. 101 in San Mateo County.' <br />Equity and Inclusion <br />Climate actions can foster a more equitable and inclusive community. <br />City -driven climate action approaches have the potential to increase equity and inclusion in both the planning <br />process as well as in long-term outcomes. To realize this promise, planners need to begin by considering how to <br />integrate equity and inclusion from the very beginning of determining the CAP planning process. This should include <br />partnering with socially vulnerable communities. <br />In Buffalo, N.Y., People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH) used a Community Congress model to meaningfully <br />engage residents in local planning efforts. This advanced their vision, priorities, and solutions. The collective work <br />of multiple partners resulted in development of a Green Development Zone that features green infrastructure, local <br />food systems, affordable housing, and energy-efficient buildings.' <br />In San Mateo County, Peninsula Clean Energy partnered with Peninsula Family Service to offer increased <br />incentives to enable low-income residents to cost effectively purchase used electric vehicles with low mileage <br />through the DriveForward10 program. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles save owners money on fueling and <br />maintenance costs and reduce GHG emissions. The program is helping to increase EV ownership across the <br />socioeconomic spectrum in San Mateo County. <br />Economic Stability and Growth <br />Climate actions can boost the local economy through local projects, programs, and jobs. <br />Investments in the construction, manufacturing, clean technology, green infrastructure, and civil engineering sectors <br />not only provide businesses with opportunities for growth. They also create skilled, well -paying "green" jobs for the <br />community. For example, many jobs in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector are in installation, <br />maintenance, and construction—making them inherently local and influential to the local economy. Cities can <br />partner with workforce development organizations, business incubators, B -corporations, and green businesses to <br />build a diverse workforce pipeline for these fields. <br />Studies have shown that energy efficiency investments create more jobs than those in fossil fuel industries—the <br />estimate is approximately eight jobs per $1 million invested, compared to approximately three jobs per $1 million <br />invested in fossil fuel industries." Investments in climate actions can also save Redwood City money. A study by <br />the University of California Transportation Center estimated that maintenance of electric vehicles (EVs) would cost <br />only 50 percent to 75 percent of the average maintenance cost of a conventional vehicle.12 <br />The sectors most likely to benefit from climate actions and policies are those related to household spending, such <br />as housing, wholesale, and retail. Manufacturers of energy efficiency equipment and appliances and renewable <br />energy generation equipment also benefit.13 <br />City of Redwood City Climate Action Plan 13 <br />