Federal Highway Administration considers rule to reduce emissions

The Federal Highway Administration is considering measuring the success of transportation projects using greenhouse gas and other air emissions for the first time.

The proposed rule ‘National Performance Management Measures; Assessing Performance of the National Highway System, Freight Movement on the Interstate System, and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program,’ establishes new performance standards for projects that receive federal dollars and by measuring the t of carbon dioxide emitted from mobile devices. Instead of measuring emissions from construction and materials or setting goals for carbon dioxide emissions, success would be measured in reduction of emissions.

The proposed rule also considers federal standards for emission reduction by air pollutants, which would presumably include particulate matter, ozone and other air constituents. This could reflect unfavourably on any road expansion or construction. The measurement of carbon dioxide and other emissions could pose additional hurdles for securing federal funds for the construction of new roads or expansion of existing roads, especially in urban areas.

NSSGA is reviewing the proposed rule.

Adapted from press release by Rebecca Bowden

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/28042016/federal-highway-administration-considers-rule-to-reduce-emissions-997/