ACEEE | Transportation System Efficiency Policies

Transportation System Efficiency Policies

Raising fuel economy and emissions standards will not alone address transportation efficiency in the long term if growth in total vehicle miles traveled goes unchecked. U.S. highway VMT is projected to grow 60% by 2030, in line with population growth in the country. Unlike vehicle fuel economy, which is addressed at the federal level, strategies to manage VMT are typically local or regional, giving states an important role in encouraging smart growth and slowing growth in VMT. Transportation is inherently tied to smart growth land use policies. Land use policies can lower VMT by incorporating principles of both smart growth and smart transportation.

Successful strategies for smart growth land use planning reform will vary widely among states due to the current infrastructure, geography, and political structure. However, the core principles of smart growth should be embodied in state comprehensive plans. Several barriers have emerged for states that have pursued smart growth land reform. These include:

State vs. local focus: Local governments bear the primary responsibility for planning and implementing smart growth. General state transportation planning depends on the collaboration of three main agencies: the state transportation agency (DOT or Highway Department), the transit operator, and the regional metropolitan planning organizations (STPP 2006). However, local governments make most land use decisions, whose impacts often have no political boundaries. States are now recognizing this and are requiring written local comprehensive plans, coordination among neighboring jurisdictions in the planning process and inter-jurisdictional consistency among the various plans (APA 2002). This type of regional cooperation among communities and government agencies is crucial to comprehensive planning and growth management systems.

Perceived high cost: Some states consider land use reforms to be too costly. However, numerous studies show that smart growth planning reforms spur significant financial savings, job growth, economic development, revitalization, improved quality of life and other benefits.

More on Transportation System Efficiency

Click a state to view its transportation system efficiency policies.

Leading States

California

As part of its plans to implement AB 32, which requires a 25% reduction from 1990 levels in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, California has identified several smart growth and VMT reduction strategies. In 2008, the state passed SB 375, which requires the California Air Resources Board to develop regional transportation-specific GHG reduction goals, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Planning Organizations. These goals must subsequently be reflected by regional transportation plans that create compact, sustainable development across the state and reduce VMT growth.

California also recently passed AB 118, a clean transportation program that includes funding for a hybrid vehicle rebate program targeted at medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The goal is to reduce the high up-front costs associated with the purchase of high efficiency vehicles. Rebates are likely to range from $20,000 to $40,000 per vehicle depending on vehicle specification.

Washington

The state of Washingtonhas long been a leader in transportation planning energy efficiency measures. Washingtonwas one of the first states to implement a specific vehicle miles traveled reduction target. The state mandates an 18% decline in annual VMT per capita by 2020, a 30% reduction by 2035, and a 50% reduction by 2050. The state also has a comprehensive Growth Management Act that requires state and local governments to manage Washington’s growth by preparing comprehensive plans, designating urban growth areas, and creating development regulations.