Why should we care what happens to gas stations?

We are in a transition from gas powered vehicles to electric vehicles in the next several years, so it will be critical to think ahead to how this will affect the cities and rural areas across New York state and the rest of the country. As of 2020, there were 4,848 gas stations in New York state.

These stations occupy key locations in cities and rural areas and form a critical part of the way we move from place to place, so their transformation is important. Since this transition will take place over a number of years, there will probably be stress on the ability of people to travel.

The business model for a successful gas station has been disappearing for some time, as noted by the industry. The changes will discourage investments in their continuing operation. This provides an opportunity for the reuse of these sites at these important locations in ways that could benefit local communities. Strategic thinking is needed to understand the environmental, social, and economic constraints as well as new possibilities. These new ideas need to be shared with communities to help them understand the opportunities and then plan for the future.