Proposed Rule Would Require Emission Reductions From U.S. Highway System

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in July proposed a new rule that would require state departments of transportation (DOTs) and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions created by the National Highway System (both interstate freeways and U.S. highways).

The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measure (GGEM), as the proposed rule is called, would not mandate specific targets for reductions. “Rather, State DOTs and MPOs would have flexibility to set targets that are appropriate for their communities and that work for their respective climate change and other policy priorities, as long as the targets would reduce emissions over time,” according to Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Federal Register.

Transportation for America has written a blog post in partnership with Evergreen Action to support the proposed rule (“a critical tool to foster accountability and steer infrastructure investments toward better climate outcomes”) and provide recommendations for how the Biden administration states can maximize the potential of their emissions reduction efforts. The recommendations, with more details included at the source article, are as follows:

1. The Biden administration must finalize a strong performance measure rule ASAP
2. The Biden administration must finalize a strong performance measure rule ASAP
3. States should incorporate performance measures in state policy and go beyond USDOT’s proposal
4. States should incorporate performance measures in state policy and go beyond USDOT’s proposal

The FHWA will receive comments on the proposed GGEM until October 13, 2022.