Project Mover (Phase 1)
Project Mover
Project MOVER Selected Through Phase One of New York Clean Transportation Prizes Program. Competition Highlights Model Solutions to Reduce Air Pollution, Scale Electrification and Mobility in Underserved Communities
The Village of Ossining and its project lead, EIT InnoEnergy, was recently selected for a Phase One grant through the New York Clean Transportation Prizes program administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). As one of 17 projects announced through Phase One of the competition, Project MOVER is eligible to compete for up to $85 million in grand prizes under Phase Two. The Phase Two effort will advance plans to bring innovative clean transportation solutions to reduce air pollution and advance electrification and mobility to New York State’s underserved communities.
Together with support from transportation planning experts Nelson\Nygaard and electric micromobility provider ACTON, plans for Project MOVER will be further developed in the Village of Ossining as part of a multi-community incubator to test and replicate implementation in neighboring river towns. The system will be designed collaboratively with the community and will ensure that the system is barrier-free.
“Navigating the Village of Ossining can be made more challenging without the use of a car, and we have long been in search of strategies to secure alternative forms of mobility for our residents,” says Village Mayor Rika Levin. “We are enthused by this chance to deliver on a decades-long promise—introducing an affordable, accessible and zero-emission option for commuting to and from work, school, childcare, and community activities will be transformative for the residents and business owners of Ossining. We look forward to being an “A” student and providing a turnkey example for our Rivertown neighbors to follow suit. I am excited by the prospect of bringing us ever closer to being the greenest Village in the country and am proud of the work being conducted by our Village staff in pursuing this opportunity without costing even a single dollar to our taxpayers”
Project MOVER intends to put electric bikes in reach of every Ossining resident and visitor, providing a viable mobility option that will benefit people who don’t wish to drive, don’t find it economical to drive, or need a quick and fun way to get around the Village. In addition, underserved community members and low-income people in Ossining identify a lack of access to direct and frequent transit as a key hindrance to accessing services and economic opportunities. For many, the Village’s topography further amplifies the already challenging prospect of accessing services, opportunities, and transit without a car.
Project MOVER received a Phase One award package of up to $200,000, including a $100,000 planning grant for further proposal development, up to $50,000 in funding for community partners, and up to $50,000 in in-kind support from technical experts. Project MOVER will be able to compete for a final grand prize in the Electric Mobility Challenge. Up to three $7 million grand prizes will be awarded through Phase Two to projects that demonstrate electric mobility options that solve underserved community needs.
As selected project teams finalize their proposals, they will prepare for a pitch competition to be held in the summer of 2022 with grand prize winners expected to be announced in fall2022. In advance of the pitch, the project team will work with our community leaders and residents to develop an e-bike system that meets Ossining’s mobility needs. The project team will convene community conversations throughout March and the Village will host a Community Meeting in late March or early April. Stay tuned!