FHWA Issues Emissions Tracking Rule

A new rule from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires states to track greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector and develop plans to reduce them, reports Daniel C. Vock in Route Fifty, building on a framework known as the National Blueprint for Decarbonization.

According to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, “This new performance measure will provide states with a clear and consistent framework to track carbon pollution and the flexibility to set their own climate targets.” The rule lets states create their own strategies for emissions reduction, and “FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt stressed that the proposal would not penalize states and planning agencies that fall short of their self-imposed targets.”

Rather than setting any specific goals, the FHWA says the rule is aimed at increasing public awareness and transparency and informing policy choices.