Resilient, Low-Carbon Transportation

Improving the emissions performance of our transportation system

Transportation is the largest source of GHG emissions in the US, accounting for 27% of annual emissions in 2020. GCC works at the nexus of federal-state transportation policy to help inform government initiatives that leverage a broad range of strategies to reduce emissions, including light-duty and heavy-duty vehicle electrification, improved transit, and other lower-carbon, more accessible, and safer transportation options. GCC convenes multi-state and regional policymakers, supports federal and state regulatory policy development, and informs the equitable and effective implementation of state and federal legislation. GCC also supports state and federal efforts to ensure transportation investments benefit communities that have been disproportionately harmed by transportation pollution and underserved by the existing transportation system. 

Informing transportation investment decisions 

Modeling and Analysis: To inform the national conversation around how best to spend the billions of dollars in federal and state transportation funding, we analyzed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law using our Transportation Investment Strategy Tool and assessed the potential effects of each of the bill’s surface transportation provisions on emissions outcomes at the national and state levels. We found IIJA could be an important part of the U.S. response to climate change. Or it could lead to more greenhouse gas pollution than the trajectory we are currently on. Where the actual outcome falls within that range will depend on the decisions made by state, federal, and local governments about how to spend the money made available by IIJA. 

We partnered with Cambridge Systematics to develop a free online tool – the Transportation Evaluation and Carbon Reduction Tool (TEA-CART) – to help practitioners in state and local departments of transportation quickly assess how investments in their capital plans could affect the future emissions performance of the transportation system.

Legal analysis on flexibility of funding: States have considerable flexibility in how to invest federal transportation funds, and we are providing legal and policy analysis to help state and federal policymakers and stakeholders determine how funds can best be directed toward projects that reduce climate-warming pollution. 

Accelerating vehicle electrification 

Electric vehicles (EVs) have enormous potential to reduce harmful air pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation. GCC has developed legal and policy analysis to inform state and federal investments in EV charging infrastructure, along with mapping and analysis tools to inform discussions between policymakers, local communities, and other stakeholders in considering priority locations for EV fast charging infrastructure investments, including the places most affected by pollution and underserved by existing transportation systems. 

Convening states to focus on the GHG performance of federal highways

GCC conducts analysis and convenes states and other stakeholders from across the nation to support the development of federal transportation programs and regulations, with a focus on the performance of the federal highway system. GCC works to inform federal policy with  the perspectives and lessons learned from states, including by publishing white papers and policy analyses and facilitating multi-state comment letters. 

Expanding community-level air quality monitoring

Community and environmental justice advocates have long called for more air quality monitoring in their neighborhoods, and a growing number of political leaders at the federal, state, and local levels of government are now taking responsive actions. To help state agencies respond to community needs, expand community-level air monitoring programs, and achieve the equity and environmental justice goals of their air quality, climate, and clean energy programs, GCC facilitates the Air Quality Monitoring Workgroup (AQMWG). This community of practice among state agency officials in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region shares information and best practices regarding community-based air quality monitoring and related policy actions.

Facilitating Northeast and Mid-Atlantic state collaboration

GCC serves as the facilitator and convenor of state transportation, energy, and environment agencies from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region working to develop low-carbon transportation policies. This work includes multi-state efforts to consider GHG emissions in transportation investment planning processes, coordinate and support regional electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure deployment, build state and local capacity for air quality monitoring, and develop regional low-carbon transportation policies.

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