The agency will require states to monitor transportation emissions and create plans to address air pollution.
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.
FULL STORY: White House finalizes rule requiring states to target vehicle pollution
Report: 14 States Increased Per-Capita Carbon Emissions
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Many jurisdictions have ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and are developing plans to achieve them. This column discusses the factors that should be considered in this planning process.
Republican States Challenge Highway Emissions Plan
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Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
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North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
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Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network
The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.
Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits
The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.
Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods
Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.
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