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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline SEPTEMBER 06, 2024 | The Indian Eye 20

Adams Administration Wins $15 Million Federal

Grant To Build Nation’s Largest Municipal

Curbside EV Charging Program

City’s Federal Infrastructure Funding Task Force Has Won Total of $850 Million in Competitive Grants

OUR BUREAU
NEW YORK, NY

ew York City Mayor Eric Adams an-
nounced on Wednesday that New York City
Nhas won a $15 million federal grant from
the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Charging
and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program to build
the nation’s largest curbside electric vehicle (EV)
charging program. The funding will allow for an ad-
ditional 600 Level 2 chargers to be installed along
streets across the five boroughs, with more than
half of those chargers designated for disadvantaged
and low-income neighborhoods. Additionally, the
funding will allow the city to build 32 solar-pow-
ered charging ports at eight different New York
City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC
Parks) locations throughout the city. This builds
on the city’s existing 100-charger pilot program,
launched in conjunction with Con Edison, and sup-
ports the city’s goals to transition 100 percent of
for-hire vehicle rides to electric or wheelchair-ac-
cessible vehicles by 2030. Curbside EV Charger at Norman Avenue in Brooklyn. Credit: DOT
“We’re building a cleaner, greener, and more
affordable city for all New Yorkers, and through no New Yorker is left behind in the transition to they live and work. It will also allow DOT to ad-
initiatives like this, we’re making sure that no New a sustainable tomorrow. As a former cab driver, I vance the development of charging infrastructure
Yorkers are left behind,” said Mayor Adams. “This understand how important equity of access will be for micromobility options like e-bikes in the future.
$15 million grant will let us build the nation’s larg- to our efforts to transition for-hire vehicles away As part of New York City’s comprehensive electri-
est EV charging program, focused on low-income from fossil fuels. We thank the Biden-Harris ad- fication and zero emissions strategy, this project
and disadvantaged areas so people living in all ministration, the New York congressional delega- will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions
five boroughs can afford to drive and charge elec- tion, Mayor Eric Adams, and our sister agencies and improve air quality, including averting an es-
tric vehicles — especially as we continue to tran- for their support.” timated 8,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions
sition all of our for-hire vehicles to EVs through “This is a win for both working-class New York- annually. This emissions reduction is equivalent to
our ‘Green Rides’ initiative. My thanks to the ers and for making our city cleaner and more liv- what’s generated by 20.4 million miles driven by an
Biden-Harris administration for issuing this grant able,” said New York City Taxi and Limousine Com- average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle.
and to our congressional delegation for helping missioner David Do. “With the use of EVs surging Recent federal legislation, including the
bring this vital funding back home.” thanks to the ‘Green Rides’ initiative, we know Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infra-
“Supporting the transition to electric vehicles that the chargers coming out of this grant are not structure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act,
means ensuring that everyone has quick and easy only needed but will go right where they’re needed have made unprecedented amounts of federal
access to chargers — especially taxi and for-hire-ve- most — in neighborhoods where TLC drivers live.” funding available for key projects across the coun-
hicle drivers, who will lead the way towards a mod- This expansion builds on DOT’s successful try. Recognizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportuni-
al shift,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera curbside EV charging pilot, a partnership with ty, Mayor Adams formed the Federal Infrastruc-
Joshi. “Deep thanks to the Biden-Harris adminis- Con Edison. The current system of 100 chargers ture Funding Task Force. Under Deputy Mayor
tration and the U.S. Department of Transportation has the highest utilization of any such system, with Joshi’s guidance, that task force evaluates the com-
for their continued investment in New York City’s an average utilization of 70 percent across all 35 petitive grant opportunities available, with a focus
evolving and climate-ready streetscape.” sites throughout the five boroughs. Utilization on new opportunities made possible through both
“Combined with efforts to promote mass tran- is measured as the proportion of time an EV is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Infla-
sit and cycling, this grant will help us take a big plugged into the charger over a 24-hour period tion Reduction Act, and works to break down silos
step toward decarbonizing the transportation sec- each day. These new chargers will play a critical and foster creativity across city agencies. The city
tor in New York City. The electrification of trans- role in the city’s ambitious “Green Rides” initia- has aligned its priorities for high-quality, sustain-
portation across five boroughs, including for-hire tive, which requires Uber and Lyft to transition to able, and equitable infrastructure with aggressive
vehicles, is a vital step in combating the climate 100 percent electric or wheelchair-accessible for- and creative grant applications from a wide range
crisis for future generations,” said New York City hire vehicles by 2030. The chargers will support of infrastructure agencies. To date, the city has
Department of Transportation (DOT) Commis- hard-working, mostly immigrant for-hire vehicles received over $850 million in competitive federal
sioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “But we must ensure drivers with affordable charging options where infrastructure grant awards from these sources.

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