On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would Assist states and municipalities in tracking and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the announcement would use an allocated $27 billion in BIL funds to establish a national framework for tracking state-by-state progress on greenhouse gas emission reductions by adding state performance management measures to the existing FHWA national performance measures, and create a system for state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations to set their own targets for on-road greenhouse gas emissions from roadway travel on the national highway system.
“With today’s announcement, we are taking an important step forward in tackling transportation’s share of the climate challenge, and we don’t have a moment to waste,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Our approach gives states the flexibility they need to set their own emission reduction targets, while providing them with resources from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to meet those targets and protect their communities.”
The proposed rule builds upon the work that 24 states and the District of Columbia are already doing while providing greater transparency, the FHWA said.
In addition to the funding available to states, new and existing formula programs will provide state and local governments access to funding that encourages public transportation and other integrated land use and transportation projects and strategies to reduce air pollution by giving Americans more climate-friendly travel options.
“Every state and local government in this country is seeing the impacts of climate change on their communities and infrastructure. States have a critical role to play as we work nationwide to bring down greenhouse gas emissions and slow those impacts,” said Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack. “State laws already require 24 states and the District of Columbia to set targets and track their greenhouse gas emissions and this proposed rule would bring this locally proven approach to scale nationwide.”
The proposed rule would help the transportation sector move from being a leading source of emissions to become the biggest part of the emissions reductions solutions.