Driving Sustainability: Embracing Change with South Bend’s Climate Action Plan
Earlier this May, I made South Bend my permanent home, transitioning from a “Domer” to a “Bender.” Calling this city home came with a lot of change, but I knew early on that I wanted to be more engaged in my new community. I wanted to bring my cards to the table, be a force for good, and get busy with the work. Fortuitously, I found the Climate Action Ambassador program managed by the City of South Bend’s Office of Sustainability.
South Bend’s first Climate Action Plan was written in 2019, and will be rewritten every 5 years to ensure the city stays on track to meet pollution reduction and climate resilience goals. The Office of Sustainability is updating the plan this year, and Climate Action Ambassadors help by engaging with our communities and getting more, diverse people involved in the process.
As a Climate Action Ambassador, I wanted to focus on something I was passionate about. Since moving to South Bend, I have been reliant on my e-bike to get around town, so I decided to dig deeper in the Mobility, Accessibility, and Equity subcategory. The focus of this section is to promote a dense, walkable urban environment and improve access to alternative transportation methods such as biking, walking, and buses.
Before we move forward, we have to know where we have been. My research started with a conversation with Amy Hill, CEO of South Bend Public Transportation Corporation, better known as “Transpo.”
From its first horse-drawn carriage route in 1885, to building the first-ever LEED Platinum transit facility, Transpo has had an eye towards sustainability. Regarding planning for climate change, Hill says that, “Transpo has been a participant in the City’s Climate Action Plan initiatives as public transportation provides a key role in sustainable, multi-modal transportation.”
Transpo began transitioning to alternate fuels over 10 years ago, choosing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) over electric vehicles. Hill said that’s because, at the time, “CNG…provided the best, most sustainable option. Transpo’s first CNG buses arrived in 2014.” The fixed-route fleet now runs on 100% compressed natural gas.
A few of Transpo’s 5-year goals regarding sustainability include maintaining their LEED Platinum transit facility and ensuring overall sustainable operations. But with every finish line, there is a race to be run.
“Critical needs include increased funding to maintain current service levels,” says Hill, “Increased frequency and service are key components of sustainable public transit, but with increasing costs and decreasing funding, there is significant concern about the ability to maintain service levels.”
South Bend residents depend on public transit to navigate their daily lives, and Transpo relies on residents to be advocates for sustainability, regardless of ridership status.
As South Bend continues to make progress on Mobility, Accessibility, and Equity, we need contributions from the voices of South Bend to bring ideas and concerns to the table. No idea is too wacky or out there. South Bend already utilizes resources that may sound absurd at first but have a big impact. For example, in a program smartly dubbed “Poop to Power,” the City of South Bend uses biogas from human waste to power the fleet of dump trucks.
Ideas like these are innovative and effective; however, these ideas need to come from somewhere, and who better than the residents of South Bend to pool together areas of concern so we can keep moving forward? You can get involved in a variety of ways. Right now, Michiana Area Coalition of Governments (MACOG)’s Move Safe Michiana mapping tool allows residents to voice concerns about non-car travel routes.
Long time residents of South Bend are using this opportunity to express where they’ve seen the City succeeding, as well as where they have the greatest concerns.
“I really like the path projects the City is doing,” South Bend resident Dan Brandt said. “I used to live in River Park and use the River Walk a lot, but where I live now it’s not super accessible.”
Even residents new to South Bend are hoping to see the sustainability plan work towards progress in areas they’ve noticed since moving here.
“I think there are great organizations in South Bend dedicated to bringing mobility equity to residents here, like the South Bend Bike Garage,” Kalie Pead said, thinking over her experiences since moving to South Bend in 2021. “I would love to see the city meet those organizations on that path, and make sure the infrastructure for equitable mobility was there as well.”
Other mobility-focused solutions that our neighbors and friends have brought to light during the climate action planning process so far include:
- Prioritize car alternative modes of transportation over electric cars
- Develop with walkability in mind, increase mixed-use spaces
- Increase bike infrastructure in the fringes of the city
- Create spaces where folks will want to walk, bike, recreate, and care for
So, what do you think? Let us know by sending an email to CAP2024@southbendin.gov with any thoughts, questions, concerns, or groundbreaking ideas.
The final draft of South Bend’s updated Climate Action Plan will go to South Bend City Council this October for voting and approval. Click the link below to learn more and sign up for updates:
