Colorado Requires DOT to Reduce Emissions. Is it Working?

A new rule calling for emissions reduction plans as part of highway projects has led to two canceled road expansions and a shift toward greener transportation investments.

1 minute read

July 19, 2024, 7:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Aerial view of wide roadway and arc bridge in Denver, Colorado.

Speer Boulevard Bridge in Denver, Colorado. | creativefamily / Adobe Stock

A Colorado state policy enacted in 2021 requires the state’s Department of Transportation (CDOT) to demonstrate how any new proposed highway project would reduce greenhouse gas emissions to qualify for state funding.

In a piece on MSN, Leslie Satter explains how the policy has impacted road projects in the state. “Within a year, the department nixed two major highway widening projects and redirected $100 million to greener alternatives like better public transit. Regional planners in Denver followed suit, reallocating a whopping $900 million from highways to eco-friendly mobility projects, including bike lanes and faster buses, the Times reported.”

The new policy discourages highway expansions and “puts people and the planet before pavement,” forcing transportation planners to shift their priorities and plan for a more sustainable transportation system.

Wednesday, July 17, 2024 in MSN

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

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