Waxman-Markey Seeks to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Reducing Travel Demand
The Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 aims to reduce transportation-generated greenhouse gas emissions, which account for approximately one third of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to establishing a new low-carbon transportation fuel standard, authorizing financial support for electric vehicle programs and re-tooling auto plants, and requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set emissions standards on non-automobile mobile sources, the bill seeks to battle climate change through the transportation planning process.
The transportation planning provisions (Title II, Part D) require states to establish and submit to the EPA 10- and 20-year horizon goals for transportation-related greenhouse gas emission reductions. EPA would promulgate regulations to provide standard methodologies and models for establishing reduction goals, and states would be required to consult with a range of stakeholders in establishing these greenhouse reduction goals, including state resource and transportation agencies, metropolitan planning organization (MPOs) and the public, through comment periods and meetings. Waxman-Markey would require states and MPOs to establish plans to achieve reduction goals as a part of their transportation plan or transportation improvement plan.
Waxman-Markey recognizes that transportation-generated emissions cannot be reduced sufficiently by relying on increased fuel efficiency and cleaner fuels alone, but also requires reducing travel demand. The bill seeks to reduce travel demand by requiring a plan that utilizes a broad-based approach that addresses:
- mobile sources
- increased use of transit
- land use planning
- economic development.
To reduce travel demand, state and MPO plans would seek to increase the use of public transportation by adding new service, employer subsidies, and coordinating transportation and land use planning; update zoning and land use regulations to focus growth close to job centers and public facilities, promote walking, bicycling and transit, and mix land uses; and promote telecommuting, flexible work schedules and satellite work centers. As with the overall emission reduction goals, Waxman-Markey would require states to coordinate with the public, MPOs, resource agencies, and state and local housing, public health economic development, and land use and public transportation agencies in preparing their plans.
It is noteworthy that the legislation does not set emissions levels or mandated reductions, incorporating instead a “goals and plans approach,” utilizing the transportation and land use planning processes as a first step towards reducing emissions. There are many considerations in how and where to develop roadways and public transportation systems, and the bill aims to make reducing greenhouse emissions a primary consideration.
April 19th, 2009 at 11:53 PM
[…] Climate Intel blogs about the bill’s goal of reducing travel demand through a provision that requires states and cities to establish travel reduction goals as part of their transportation plans. […]