To: Anthony Foxx, U.S. DOT Secretary
Support U.S. DOT's Carbon Emissions Rule
Dear Secretary Anthony Foxx,
I commend USDOT for considering carbon emissions in the proposed performance management rule for congestion and air quality (Docket #: FHWA-2013-0054), and urge you to include a strong carbon emissions performance standard in the final rule.
Specifically, the final rule should require all state DOTs and Metropolitan Planning Organizations, regardless of size, to measure, reduce, and report on carbon emissions from all transportation projects as part of their long-term transportation plans.
Moreover, to make this new measure as impactful as possible, the congestion mitigation and system performance portions of the rule should be amended to account for people who travel via public transit, biking, and walking. Prioritizing a truly multimodal transportation system will help reduce congestion on our roads, improve reliability, and will assist the Obama administration’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and protect public health.
Your department has already been a leader in developing regulations and programs to boost the fuel economy of the nation's vehicle fleet, as well as reducing greenhouse gas pollution that puts our cities, economy, and transportation infrastructure at risk. You have also supported efforts to make sure our transportation system effectively serves all users well. I hope the final rule will build on that track record by including carbon emissions and counting all modes of transportation in measuring congestion.
Thank you,
I commend USDOT for considering carbon emissions in the proposed performance management rule for congestion and air quality (Docket #: FHWA-2013-0054), and urge you to include a strong carbon emissions performance standard in the final rule.
Specifically, the final rule should require all state DOTs and Metropolitan Planning Organizations, regardless of size, to measure, reduce, and report on carbon emissions from all transportation projects as part of their long-term transportation plans.
Moreover, to make this new measure as impactful as possible, the congestion mitigation and system performance portions of the rule should be amended to account for people who travel via public transit, biking, and walking. Prioritizing a truly multimodal transportation system will help reduce congestion on our roads, improve reliability, and will assist the Obama administration’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and protect public health.
Your department has already been a leader in developing regulations and programs to boost the fuel economy of the nation's vehicle fleet, as well as reducing greenhouse gas pollution that puts our cities, economy, and transportation infrastructure at risk. You have also supported efforts to make sure our transportation system effectively serves all users well. I hope the final rule will build on that track record by including carbon emissions and counting all modes of transportation in measuring congestion.
Thank you,
Why is this important?
A new proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) considers requiring state and metropolitan transportation organizations to track, measure, and reduce carbon emissions as well as other air pollution from transportation projects. If enacted, this new measure would help increase investment in public transit, expand safe bikeways and pedestrian walkways, relieve traffic congestion, and clean up the air we breathe. But it won't happen without your support.
Transportation makes up 31 percent of all U.S. carbon dioxide emissions and is responsible for about 53,000 premature deaths each year. Reducing emissions from transportation will clean up our air and save lives.
We need your help to fix the problem. Tell U.S. DOT you support this rule now.
Transportation makes up 31 percent of all U.S. carbon dioxide emissions and is responsible for about 53,000 premature deaths each year. Reducing emissions from transportation will clean up our air and save lives.
We need your help to fix the problem. Tell U.S. DOT you support this rule now.