States and urban municipalities will need to set goals to decrease carbon emissions from cars and trucks on their roads as a new federal rule requires, marking an important shift of tens of billions of highway dollars to environmental initiatives under President Biden’s administration. The recent rule, issued by the Federal Highway Administration, faces opposition from many transportation agencies, limited in their options to reconcile their goals, as they debate the federal government’s legal authority. Although the rule is now in place, it’s poised to be contentious as it pits Republican lawmakers and conservative states against the Biden administration over the funding and focus of federal highway investments.
With the new rule, states will have to calculate vehicle emissions from major roadways and create emission reduction targets, addressing the largest source of greenhouse gases in the United States. Driving habits and infrastructure investment decisions are expected to be the primary influences over the CO2 emissions, with options like replacing older vehicles with electric cars and investing in transit-oriented projects. Federal highway officials now face political pushback and legal challenges, but they remain firm in their authority to impose despite a similar effort by the Obama administration being repealed by the Trump administration.
Amidst the airing resistance from transportation agencies, Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt insists the move is necessary, as states grapple with billion-dollar continuous repair funds for weather-linked disasters and a greater acceptance of the climate change and infrastructure impact. Committed to steering transportation funds towards environmentally beneficial projects, Bhatt’s agency is confident in its legal standing and will push ahead, with $18.9 billion worth of funds on the line, earmarked for electric vehicles and emissions-reducing infrastructure.