This agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the niagara frontier transportation authority (nfta), host of the greater buffalo-niagara regional transportation council…

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) has been awarded a $1,000,000 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program (CFDA 66.046). This funding will support the development of a Priority Climate Action Plan and a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan for the Greater Buffalo-Niagara regional area. Key activities include integrating findings from a greenhouse gas inventory, identifying emissions reduction measures, conducting a low-income and disadvantaged community benefits analysis, and assessing implementation strategies and funding sources. NFTA has issued a subaward to the University at Buffalo Regional Institute (UBRI) to lead the planning, technical analysis, and stakeholder engagement for these deliverables. The planning process will involve intergovernmental coordination and public/stakeholder engagement through the establishment of a Climate Action Steering Committee, Climate Justice Advisory Group, and other collaborative structures.

Description

This agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the niagara frontier transportation authority (nfta), host of the greater buffalo-niagara regional transportation council (gbnrtc), to develop or update existing regional climate mitigation plans to address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduction measures throughout the entire metropolitan area and to conduct meaningful engagement with low- income and disadvantaged communities and coordinate with geographically proximate tribes as appropriate. Specifically, the recipient will oversee coordination of regional partners to build on collaboration established through one region forward - the buffalo niagara region's regional sustainability initiative.activities:in general, activities include the development, updating, and evaluation of plans to reduce climate pollution (i.e., to reduce GHG emissions and/or enhance carbon sinks). The approach will build on the planning, outreach, and engagement infrastructure generated through the one region forward (1RF) initiative and will involve interagency and intergovernmental coordination, as well as public/stakeholder engagement. Specific activities include: pcap elements include: - integration of findings from existing GHG inventory - comprehensive reconnaissance of current and relevant climate-related plans and initiatives and identification of GHG reduction measures and projects for inclusion in pcap - low-income disadvantaged communities (lidac) benefit analysis - implementation authority and funding assessment ccap elements include: - development of a current GHG inventory - quantified GHG reduction measures and GHG reduction targets - GHG emissions projections - benefit analysis for full geographic scope, workforce planning analysis, and lidac communities - implementation authority and funding assessment status report elements include: - updates from ccap analysis - status of ccap GHG reduction measures - next steps and future resource needs intergovernmental coordination and stakeholder engagement approach: - establishment of a climate action steering committee - coordination with NY state programs and engagement with local governments - establishment of an implementation council - establishment of a climate justice advisory group, sector-based working groups, engagement with local community stakeholders, and convening of community workshops. Subrecipient:a subaward will be issued to the university at buffalo regional institute (ubri) to support project activities by leading the planning, technical analysis, stakeholder engagement, and deliverable assembly for the cprg. With guidance and direction from gbnrtc, ubri will take the lead on developing and implementing a planning approach for the priority climate action plan (pcap), comprehensive climate action plan (ccap), and final status report. Working in partnership with ubri, gbnrtc will engage the one region forward implementation council to build a governance and stakeholder/community involvement approach that will set this planning process up for successful intergovernmental coordination and public/stakeholder engagement.outcomes:three key deliverables will be produced and submitted over the course of the four-year program period, including: a priority climate action plan (pcap), due march 1, 2024; a comprehensive climate action plan (ccap), due two years from the date of the award; and a status report, due at the close of the grant period. Specifically, the recipient will produce and submit three deliverables (in addition to meeting standard grant reporting requirements) over the course of the 4-year program period running to 2027: 1. A priority climate action plan (pcap), due march 1, 2024; 2. A comprehensive climate action plan (ccap), due 2 years from the date of the award (summer-fall 2025); and