Transportation's Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...

Transportation's Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Volume 1
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strategies, multistate pricing policies, long distance freight movement,
coordinated GHG reduction strategies, and coordination of large multijurisdictional
projects. Planning at a megaregion or national-level may allow for
some issues to be addressed more effectively than could be done for smaller
geographic areas in isolation. However, the range of strategies that might be
most effectively implemented at a megaregion level is limited (for example,
major intercity transportation investments).
The development of planning structures at new scales is likely to encounter
resistance from existing planning entities if they perceive an erosion of their
authority, although multiregion planning has been embraced in some parts of the
country (such as the East Coast’s I-95 Corridor Coalition). Planning resource
requirements would increase due to the establishment of new planning
structures and the need for greater coordination among multiple entities.
Funding Incentives
Through the Federal-aid Highway Program and transit funding programs, the
DOT provides funding to states and local governments to implement surface
transportation programs and projects. Congress can change the structure of
Federal transportation spending to prioritize GHG reductions, by directing
funding towards specific types of planning activities or projects, or by
establishing performance-based funding criteria to reward GHG emission
reductions. Funding also can be targeted at GHG reduction activities in other
modes of transport, including the rail, marine, and/or aviation systems. While
future spending at any level could be better targeted toward strategies that
prioritize carbon-efficient transportation projects, the Highway Trust Fund does
not currently have enough resources to maintain current spending levels, let
alone additional programs for low-carbon infrastructure. The DOT’s Conditions
and Performance Report finds that present highway and transit investment levels
are insufficient to maintain the current conditions and performance of the
system. 122
This, combined with deficits projected in the Highway Trust Fund,
and competing goals for transportation spending, complicates the objective of
aligning funding incentives with climate change goals.
Funding for GHG Planning Activities
Federal funding can be directed specifically towards planning for GHG reduction,
including data collection, tool development, process refinement, strategy
development, and analysis of GHG reduction strategies. The State or metropolitan
planning agency would determine, through its planning process, which strategies
should be implemented, considering the full range of benefits and impacts of each
122 U.S. Department of Transportation. Conditions & Performance: 2008 Status of the
Nation’s Highways, Bridges, and Transit.