U.S. Department of Transportation Finalizes Performance Measure to Track Transportation-Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Strategic Insights -

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has finalized a performance measure to track transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, providing state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) with the flexibility to set their own targets for reduction. This measure is part of President Biden's goal to cut carbon pollution in half by 2030. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes over $27 billion in funding for carbon pollution reduction projects, including programs for electric vehicle infrastructure, congestion relief, and transit-oriented development.

Key Takeaways:

  • The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has finalized a performance measure to track transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, providing state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) with the flexibility to set their own targets for reduction.
  • The measure is part of President Biden's goal to cut carbon pollution in half by 2030 and is supported by over $27 billion in funding for carbon pollution reduction projects, including programs for electric vehicle infrastructure, congestion relief, and transit-oriented development.
  • The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes the following programs to address carbon pollution:

+ Carbon Reduction Program: $6.4 billion in formula funding to develop carbon reduction strategies and fund projects to reduce carbon emissions from on-road highway sources.

+ National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program: $5 billion to build out a national electric vehicle charging network.

+ Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) discretionary grant program: $2.5 billion in competitive funding to deploy electric vehicle charging and hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling infrastructure.

+ Congestion Relief Program: $250 million in competitive funding to reduce congestion and related economic and environmental costs in the most congested metropolitan areas of the U.S.

+ Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Program: $400 million in competitive funding to reduce truck idling and emissions at ports.

+ Low or No Emission Vehicle Program: $5 billion to replace transit buses with zero emission electric buses.

+ Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside program: $7.2 billion to help state and local governments carry out environmentally friendly pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure projects.

+ Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Program: $69 million in funding to local communities to integrate land use and transportation planning with new fixed guideway or core capacity transit capital investment projects.

  • Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasizes the importance of providing states with the data, funding, and flexibility to address their unique climate challenges.

Statistics:

  • $27 billion in funding for carbon pollution reduction projects from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
  • $6.4 billion in formula funding for the Carbon Reduction Program.
  • $5 billion for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program.
  • $2.5 billion in competitive funding for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) program.
  • $250 million in competitive funding for the Congestion Relief Program.
  • $400 million in competitive funding for the Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Program.
  • $5 billion for the Low or No Emission Vehicle Program.
  • $7.2 billion for the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside program.
  • $69 million for the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Program.

Sources:

  • U.S. Department of Transportation
  • Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
  • Inflation Reduction Act
  • U.S. Department of Transportation's press release, "Whole-of-Government Approach to Tackling Climate Change Provides States and Metropolitan Planning Organizations a Clear Framework, Flexibility, and Funding" (November 22)