On Nov. 22, the Federal Highway Administration released its Greenhouse Gas Performance Measure final rule.

The final rule requires that state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations—the state entities responsible for transportation infrastructure construction and maintenance—must measure and report GHG emissions associated with transportation. Further, state DOTs and MPOs must set targets for reducing carbon dioxide emission and report on progress toward these targets. The rule does not mandate particular targets, allowing states to set their own targets as long as they achieve some amount of emission reduction.

Depending on how state DOTs and MPOs implement their emission reduction targets, certain transportation projects such as roadways and bridges could be delayed as the agencies seek to achieve GHG emission goals. ABC will continue to monitor the impact of this rule as state DOTs and MPOs move forward with implementation.