Sustainable Transportation

The transportation sector includes the movement of people and goods by car, truck, train, ship, airplane, and other methods of transit. The majority of GHG emissions from transportation are CO2 emissions resulting from the combustion of petroleum-based products in internal combustion engines (ICE). The largest sources of transportation-related GHG emissions include passenger cars, medium- to heavy-transport trucks, and light-duty vehicles, including sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans. The EPA has indicated these sources account for over half of the emissions from the transportation sector. The remainder of GHG emissions come from other modes of transportation, including commercial aircraft, ships, boats, and trains.

Current Projects

Fleet Electrification

Working with the Denver Metro Clean Cities Coalition, Broomfield is implementing a 20-year plan to replace all internal combustion fleet vehicles (as technology allows) with fully electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles. The Broomfield fleet consists of 294 On-Road Vehicles and 88 Off-Road Vehicles. Delivery of the first EVs and PHEVs is scheduled for late 2022.    

Where is Broomfield Right Now?

Current US GHG transportation emissions are 29% of the overall GHG emissions in the prevailing atmosphere. Reducing transportation emissions regionally will effectively contribute to national goals and efforts towards establishing long term air quality improvement. Regional transportation planning can play a role in reducing air quality impacts, including strategies such as Transportation Demand Management (TDM), which encourages employers to create new incentives and initiatives to reduce employee commuter traffic. 

Wherever possible, Broomfield seeks to align with the DRCOG (Denver Regional Council of Governments) Metro Vision Performance Metrics: 

• 20% housing near high-frequency or rapid transit 
• 25% housing in urban centers (currently along Highway 36 and I-25/CO-7) as defined by DRCOG 
• 45% employment near high-frequency or rapid transit 
• 50% employment in urban centers 
• 35% of commuters use travel modes other than SOV 
• 10% decrease in vehicle miles traveled per capita per day per the baseline of 2010

Electric Vehicles

There are currently nine, publicly accessible, level 2 charging stations (18 ports or parking spaces)on City and County Broomfield property. These chargers are available at no charge and are located at:

• Broomfield Health and Human Services Building at 100 Spader Way
• Paul Derda Recreation Center at 13201 Lowell Blvd
• Anthem Community Park at 15671 Sheridan Parkway
• Broomfield Community Center at 280 Spader Way

Check out more information about electric vehicle charging.

Increasing EV chargers supports Broomfield’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan by reducing transportation emissions. 

An EV in Colorado produces around 71% less greenhouse gas emissions than a gas-powered vehicle.

What It Means:

GHG savings calculations are based on the energy dispensed by each organization’s charging stations. We can estimate how far an EV can go using the energy from the stations, calculate the emissions caused by generating that electricity, and compare it with the emissions generated by a gas-powered vehicle traveling the same distance. Actual emissions avoided may be higher or lower depending on how your electricity is generated locally.

Increasing access to electric vehicle chargers supports Broomfield’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan and the State of Colorado’s goal of 940,000 light-duty electric vehicles in Colorado by 2030. 

Expanding public charging stations ensures equitable access for residents, including renters and those in multi-unit dwellings, while aligning with state targets for clean transportation and fostering a sustainable, EV-ready community.

Multimodality

Multimodality describes the multiple ways community members can get to work, school, recreation, shopping, and other destinations. These methods include walking, biking, riding feeder public transportation systems (i.e., utilizing bus transport to connect with commuter rail), and other options other than the one-person-one-car model.

Today, 86% of Broomfield residents travel outside of the area for work, while 88% of Broomfield-based employees travel into the city/county. To alleviate these challenges, one solution employed by many regions is the development of a robust multimodal transportation system.

In addition to GHG generated through commuting. GHG is also generated by short, local trips. DRCOG data indicates that in the Denver region 43% of all trips are less than three miles and 19% of trips are less than one mile. Well-connected, high-comfort regional active transportation corridors, pedestrian focus areas, short-trip opportunity zones, and local active transportation networks work together to create the conditions necessary to make bicycling and walking viable for everyday trips and reduce unnecessary Single Occupancy Vehicle (SOV) trips. 

Broomfield continues to invest in multimodal transportation and micromobility (e-bikes, scooters, bicycles and motorcycles) as a way to connect the community in a way that safely and efficiently accommodates the diverse needs of local citizens. 

Recommended Transportation Policies and Programs 

As laid out in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan presented to the City Council by ACES and the Sustainability staff in 2022, the recommended high-impact strategies to reduce emissions from transportation are the following: 

Also, check out other Community Transportation Resources.