The City of Evansville has been awarded a $20 million Community Change Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental and Climate Justice. This grant will help Evansville transition to cleaner, lower-emission transportation systems. The multi-faceted project will promote public transit, shared rides, and physically active modes of travel built around new “mobility hubs” across the city to provide convenience, accessibility, and ease of transition among both public and private transportation modes.

The project was developed under the leadership of city agencies, including the Evansville Climate Collaborative and Department of Transportation & Services, in partnership with the Evansville Metropolitan Planning Organization, Welborn Baptist Foundation, Evansville Trails Coalition, and Tri-State Creation Care. Included in the project funded by the grant are:

· The creation of 15 mobility hubs along existing METS public transit routes

· The expansion of METS Micro Transit program to 16 EV/hybrid, ADA-accessible vans

· Improving over 4 miles of city sidewalks for ADA accessibility and active transportation such as walking and biking

· Installing over 60 publicly accessible EV charging stations across Evansville

· Expanding the Upgrade bikeshare system to include 100 e-bikes, with 1,000 free annual memberships for city residents to utilize unlimited 30 minute rides

· Installation of solar panels on the METS administration building and bus terminal

· Creation of a community-wide education and outreach campaign to increase utilization of cleaner transportation options and awareness of their impact on air quality

· Hosting a free annual community event to promote EVs and other low emission vehicles

The project start date is March 17, 2025 per the grant agreement between the EPA Region 5 and the grant participants. Both Lauren Norvell, Evansville Climate Action Director, and Mayor Stephanie Terry have said the following:

“This project will provide our residents better access to clean and active transportation options, which will in turn reduce transportation air emissions and improve our air quality,” said Lauren Norvell, Director of the Evansville Climate Collaborative.  “It is just one of the many collaborative projects we are engaged in to improve our climate resilience and quality of life here in Evansville.”

“This transformative grant from the EPA marks a pivotal step forward for Evansville in building a cleaner, more accessible, and sustainable future,” said Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry. “By investing in innovative transportation systems and enhancing mobility across our community, we’re creating opportunities for all residents to thrive while addressing critical environmental challenges.”

U.S. EPA award announcement: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-announces-nearly-16-billion-environmental-and-climate