The Washington Post | States must target transportation carbon emission cuts under new federal rule
November 22, 2023
"But decisions about other kinds of infrastructure investments could also affect emissions. Officials say shifting highway funds to pay for transit or bike and pedestrian routes could encourage people to opt for greener forms of transportation. Many experts argue that prioritizing existing roads rather than building new roads would have an environmental benefit because adding capacity tends to encourage driving.
A study by the Georgetown Climate Center shortly after the infrastructure law was passed in 2021 projected that focusing on maintenance and directing spending to transit would help reduce emissions more quickly, but expanding highways would slow environmental progress."