Transportation Summary
Climate change, together with fluctuating fuel prices, has placed the issue of energy efficiency in the transportation sector at the forefront of the environmental debate. In response, states have taken it upon themselves to adopt policies that go above and beyond existing federal transportation policies. California’s vehicle greenhouse gas emission standards have been adopted by several states across the nation seeking to lead the way in saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As another approach to promoting advanced vehicles, several states have chosen to adopt tax incentives for hybrid-electric and alternative fuel vehicles (HEVs and AFVs). Such incentives add to federal tax credits for advanced technology vehicles, making them more affordable to consumers. They also can help bring down manufacturing costs by increasing sales volume.
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 vehicle miles travelled (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.
Alabama has historically focused its efforts on policies to encourage energy efficiency in the transportation sector, though is currently exploring opportunities to expand EV charging infrastructure. There is significant room for growth.
Alaska saw a dip in its per capita transit expenditure. The state's freight plan had a few goals relevant to alternative fuel use. However, the state has not pursued specific energy-efficient transportation policies.
Arizona has some dedicated state transit funding, and has policies in place that encourage the integration of transportation and land-use planning.
Despite having dedicated transit legislation/funding and efficient state freight plan goals, Arkansas has significant room for growth.
California has some of the most comprehensive transportation and land-use planning policies in the U.S.
Colorado has several transportation policies including the adoption of California's vehicle standards, smart growth legislation, transit funding, equitable transportation access, and for efficient vehicles.
Connecticut's efficient transportation policies include California vehicle standards, VMT targets, complete streets legislation, and incentives for high efficiency vehicles, and equitable access to transportation.
The state commits a significant amount of effort to integrating transportation and land-use planning. Delaware has passed complete streets legislation, California's vehicle standards for ACCII, a VMT targets and transit legislation.
DC has several transportation policies including the adoption of California's vehicle standards, smart growth legislation, transit funding, equitable transportation access, and for efficient vehicles.
The state has a dedicated revenue stream for transportation projects, and has policies to promote the integration of transportation and land-use planning.
The state has transit legislation in place and also provides incentives for high-efficiency vehicles.
The state integrates transportation and land use planning, has a zero emissions goal, and has efficient vehicle incentives.
The state has some policies and incentives focusing on efficient vehicles and transit funding. However, there is still significant room for growth.
Illinois has policies focusing on complete streets legislation, efficient vehicles and for low-income applicant EV rebates.
The state has focused very little on efficient transportation policies, leaving significant room for growth. Its current policies focus on smart growth and transit funding legislation.
Iowa integrates transportation and land use planning through smart growth policies and has transit funding legislation.
Kansas has some legislation supporting dedicated transit funding and a freight plan that considers alternative fuel vehicles.
Kentucky has not focused its efforts on policies to encourage energy-efficient transportation besides creating a state freight plan with some relevant implementation strategies for efficient freight, leaving significant room for growth.
Lousiana has not adopted efficient transportation measures other than its state freight plan.
Maine has set targets for reduced vehicle miles traveled, has standards for tailpipe emissions, integrates transportation and land use planning, and has EV incentives including for low-income residents.
The state devotes a significant amount of funding to transportation projects, has adopted California's vehicle standards, integrates transportation and land use planning, has a VMT target and efficient vehicle incentives.
The state's comprehensive set of policies includes tailpipe emissions standards, targets to reduce vehicle miles traveled, significant levels of transit funding, a dedicated transit revenue stream, and equitable access to transportation.
Michigan has legislation in place for transit funding. The state also integrates transportation and land use planning, and has a few freight plan objectives related to low-emissions modes.
Minnesota adopted legislation for California's clean vehicle standards, complete streets policies, VMT targets, transit funding, and EV rebates for efficient vehicles.
The state has some general freight plan goals related to reducing GHG emissions, but has not otherwise pursued policies to encourage efficient transportation system development.
Other than a few objectives regarding alternative fueled vehicles in the state's freight plan and funds dedicated to transit, Missouri has not focused its efforts on policies to encourage efficient transportation systems, leaving significant room for growth.
Montana has few policies focused on encouraging efficient vehicles and transportation systems. These are limited to integrating transportation and land use, and EV charging priorities in underserved communities.
Nebraska has not focused its efforts on policies to encourage efficient transportation systems, leaving significant room for growth.
Nevada has focused its efforts on adopting some of California's clean vehicle standards and establishing some multimodal freight and fuel efficiency goals in its freight plan.
The state integrates transportation and land-use planning, prioritizes underserved communities for its State Clean Diesel Grant Program and has multimodal and energy efficiency strategies in its freight plan, but has not otherwise pursued policies to encourage efficient transportation systems.
The state has adopted California's clean vehicle standards, integrates transportation and land-use planning, has a complete streets policy and other policies for equitable transportation in place. New Jersey also offers incentives for high efficiency vehicles and has relevant efforts for reducing emissions in its freight plan.
New Mexico has established a freight plan, adopted California's ACC II and ACT, has a carbon intensity goal for transportation fuels, policies to ensure equitable access to transportation.
New York leads the nation with its efficient transportation policies. The state has a comprehensive set of policies to encourage efficient transportation system, and invests billions annually in the transportation system, including a robust transit system.
The state has a rail modal target share in its freight plan, a dedicated revenue stream for transit investments, and integrates transportation and land-use planning.
The state integrates transportation and land-use planning, and has dedicated transit funding but has not otherwise pursued policies that encourage efficient transportation systems.
The state has not focused its efforts on policies to encourage efficient transportation systems, leaving significant room for improvement.
The state has goals related to reducing emissions, pursuing alternative energy consumption in its freight plan, and some dedicated public transit funding.
The state has adopted ACC II and ACT, integrates transportation and land use, has tailpipe emissions standards, EV rebates, and dedicated state transit funding.
The state has a comprehensive set of policies to encourage efficient transportation systems, including some of California's tailpipe standards, a dedicated revenue stream for transit, complete streets legislation, policies for equitable access to transportation and incentives for high efficiency vehicles.
The state integrates transportation and land use planning, has adopted California's clean vehicle regulations, and EV incentives.
The state has a state freight plan in addition to transit legislation.
The state has a few strategies in its freight plan o encourage efficient freight systems, leaving significant room for growth in other areas.
The state has passed legislation integrating land use and transportation, and allows regional authorities to set up dedicated funding streams for mass transit. The state also has some dedicated shuttle and school bus replacement funding for economically Distressed counties.
Although Texas has some incentives for EVs and considers proximity to transit in its LIHTC, it has not pursued other policies that encourage efficient transportation systems.
The state offers incentives for high-efficiency vehicles, and legislation to integrate land use-transportation coordination, but has not otherwise pursued policies to encourage efficient transportation systems.
The state has adopted California's zero emissions vehicles standards, prioritizes low income applicants in its EV programs, EV incentives, and complete streets smart growth legislation in place, GHG emissions goal, and a freight plan with energy efficient and emissions reduction goals/objectives, and strategies.
The state devotes funding and policies to transportation initiatives, integrates transportation and land use planning, and has passed complete streets legislation. Virginia also adopted California's ACC II regulations, and has incentives for EV including for underserved populations.
The state implements a variety of policies to encourage efficient transportation initiatives across almost all categories, and has a dedicated revenue stream for transportation projects.
In 2013, the state passed transit legislation establishing a fund to pay track access fees accrued by commuter rail services. West Virginia has also proximity to transit services when distributing federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits.
The state devotes a funding to funding to transit services, and has complete streets legislation in place.
Wyoming has some transit funding dedicated through its public transit account, but otherwise has not focused its efforts on policies to encourage efficient transportation systems, leaving significant room for growth. The latest state freight plan has a few relevant emissions reduction and efficient freight strategies