Advocacy

Issue Brief: Green Streets Act

THE ISSUE

ASLA believes that multi-modal transportation systems should be safe, efficient, beautiful, ecologically sensitive, convenient, address climate change, support public health, and serve all people and modes of transportation. Landscape architects are trained and uniquely qualified to plan and design multi-modal transportation networks that provide users with cost efficient transportation options, while also addressing other community needs.

Background

Our nation’s transportation system is the backbone of our economy and critical to supporting the daily needs of all Americans. It also having adverse impacts on our daily lives, contributing to congestion, polluted stormwater runoff, poor air quality, and climate change. Currently, the transportation sector is one of the largest contributors to U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. According to the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 1990–2022 (the national inventory that the U.S. prepares annually under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), transportation accounted for the largest portion (28%) of total U.S. GHG emissions in 2022. Cars, trucks, commercial aircraft, and railroads, among other sources, all contribute to transportation end-use sector emissions.

ASLA works with policy makers, state and local governments, and communities across the nation to promote increased active transportation projects. Active transportation modes like bicycling and walking produce zero carbon emissions and provide individuals and families with low-cost, healthy transportation options.

Bill Summary

Senator Edward Markey (MA) introduced S. 3669 and Representative Jared Huffman (CA) introduced H.R. 7286 as the Generating Resilient Environmentally Exceptional National (GREEN) Streets Act of 2024. This legislation:

Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish minimum standards for states to use to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and per capita vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on the national highway system;
Directs the Transportation Secretary to establish measures that states can use to assess and reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions on the national highway system;
Requires states that have fallen out of compliance with the per capita VMT standards or carbon dioxide or greenhouse gas emission measures to dedicate federal highway funding to come into compliance;
Requires states and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to consider projects and strategies that reduce per capita VMT and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector; and
Requires states and MPOs to publish an analysis of the impact on per capita VMTs and mobile source greenhouse gas emissions for each project that adds new lanes or otherwise increases traffic capacity and costs more than $25 million.

Recent Action

On January 25, 2024, Senator Edward Markey (MA) introduced S. 3669, the GREEN Streets Act of 2024.

On January 25, 2024, Representative Jared Huffman (CA) introduced H.R. 7082, the GREEN Streets Act of 2024.

Sponsors
S. 3669, Senator Edward Markey (MA) and cosponsors.

H.R. 7286, Representative Jared Huffman (CA) and cosponsors .

Resources

Senator Markey's Press Release

Representative Huffman's Press Release

ASLA Letter to FWHA on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

U.S. National Blueprint on Transportation Decarbonization

U.S. DOT Active Transportation Resources

EPA Fast Facts on Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions

ASLA Sustainable Transportation Guide

Landscape Architecture: A Solution to the Climate Crisis

ASLA Smart Policies for a Changing Climate

Related ASLA Policies

Air Quality

Climate Change and Resilience

Livable Communities

Transportation Corridors and Facilities

Urban Growth and Development

Roxanne Blackwell,
Esq., Hon. ASLA,
Director of Federal
Government Affairs
governmentaffairs@asla.org

Elizabeth Hebron,
Director of State
Government Affairs
governmentaffairs@asla.org

Advocacy

Issue Brief: Green Streets Act

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