The GHG Technical Process provides a step-by-step framework for the analysis of GHG as part of transportation decision making. Although there are many individual steps in this technical process, this high-level framework captures what is common across transportation agencies.

Technical considerations are necessary to: (1) evaluate potential opportunities and (2) inform decision makers. In order for practitioners to take action, policy makers must be convinced of the value and make ongoing decisions that provide support. See the information in the next tab, The Decision Guide and GHG Planning, to see how this technical information can be used to support policy decisions.

Click on each of the steps to understand what activities fit into this part of the process.

Click on a step for more information.

Additional support is available in the Practitioner's Guide for incorporating greenhouse gas emissions into transportation decision making. This resource provides technical information needed to answer questions at each relevant Key Decision.

The transportation Decision Guide is a framework of Key Decisions required by law or regulation or which have become part of successful practice. These decisions require action by those empowered to make the final decisions about plan adoption,funding priorities or project implementation. Technical information is used at each of these Key Decisions to inform decision makers. Technical steps and Key Decisions are related through the flow of data and analysis.

Key Decisions that are grayed-out have no specific relationship to greenhouse gas.

The extent to which GHG emissions are considered in transportation decision making varies greatly. In some states there are regulations that require GHG reduction to meet established targets. Other states and some MPOs have introduced GHG into their planning activities. Although many transportation agencies are interested in reducing GHG emissions, additional information or support may be needed. Examples of states with legislation to reduce GHG emissions, regional climate action plans, and GHG analysis in environmental review are provided here.

States with legislation to reduce GHG emissions

Some states have already adopted requirements to limit GHG emissions resulting from transportation. In order to account for these reductions through the planning process, goals and objectives in the long range plans of MPOs in these states have to be consistent with the established targets at the state level.

Click on the arrows below for detailed information about each example.

• Oregon House Bill 1059

  The Oregon legislature has been proactive since 2007, when it passed House Bill 3543 to reduce carbon emissions. In 2009, House Bill 2186 allowed the Environmental Quality Commission to adopt low-carbon fuel standards with the sunset date of December 31, 2015, and created the Metropolitan Planning Organization Greenhouse Gas Emissions Task Force. The task force is charged with studying the development of alternative land use and transportation scenarios that accommodate population and employment growth while also reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less.

  In 2010, Oregon passed Senate Bill 1059, which directs the Oregon Transportation Commission(OTC) to adopt a statewide transportation strategy to help reduce GHG from transportation. This bill tasks the departments of Transportation and Land Conservation and Development with educating the public about the benefits of reducing GHG emissions from motor vehicles. It also specifically requires these departments to establish scenario planning guidelines and a toolkit to assist local governments in identifying actions that help reduce GHG emissions from motor vehicles. The law also requires the Land Conservation and Development Commission, in consultation with the OTC,to adopt reduction targets for GHG emissions from motor vehicles for all metropolitan planning organizations. Collectively, these efforts are referred to as the Oregon Sustainable Transportation Initiative

• California Senate Bill 375

  California passed Senate Bill 375 in 2008 to enact mandatory GHG reduction targets in regional transportation planning. The law directs the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to provide each of the state's 18 MPOs with GHG emissions reduction targets from the auto and light truck sector for 2020 and 2035. MPOs will then prepare a "sustainable communities strategy (SCS)" that demonstrates how the region will meet its greenhouse gas reduction target through integrated land use, housing, and transportation planning.Each final SCS will be reviewed by CARB to determine whether it would, if implemented,achieve the greenhouse gas emission reduction target for its region. Once adopted by the MPO, the SCS will be incorporated into that region's federally enforceable regional transportation plan (RTP).

• Washington House Bill 2815

  In 2008 Washington State enacted climate change framework legislation House Bill 2815 which provides a framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the Washington state economy. The Bill includes a requirement to reduce light-duty vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per capita 18 percent by 2020, 30 percent by 2035, and 50 percent by 2050.

• Maryland Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act of 2009

  Maryland's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act of 2009 requires the state to reduce statewide GHG emissions by 25 percent from 2006 levels by 2020 and adopt a finalplan to achieve reductions by 2012. The Act required the Department of Environment to: (i) develop a 2006 Statewide greenhouse gas emissions inventory;(ii) develop a projected "business as usual" emissions inventory for 2020; and (iii) develop and publish for public comment a proposed plan to achieve a 25 percent emissions reduction by 2020. In addition, the Act stipulated that the final GHG reduction plan adopted by 2012 should establish the need and timeline for seeking any additional legislative authority necessary for full implementation of plan measures.

• New York Legislation A1391-2011

  New York Legislation A1391-2011 establishes the New York state climate change task force, the membership of the task force, and the powers and duties of the task force.The legislation highlighted two key objectives of the task force as follows: (i)conducting an in-depth examination of issues related to global climate change on the citizens, natural resources, and the economy of the state, and (ii) developing a climate action plan that will incorporate both measures related to mitigating carbon emissions and adapting to the potential impacts of climate change carbon.The state climate action plan will include an inventory of statewide GHG emissions and results of the evaluation of current and future GHG emissions reduction measures.

Regional Climate Action Plans

In the absence of formal legislation, some states and regions are accounting for GHG emissions because of community interest in mitigating for climate change and a focus on regional sustainability. Several states, MPOs, and local agencies have developed Climate Action Plans that outline strategies for reducing GHG emissions in the transportation sector. By 2010, 36 states had developed or were developing some sort of climate action plan, including creation of GHG inventories and forecasts.These plans typically propose specific policies and programs for consideration by the state legislature or implementation by a state agency.

Several MPOs and regional agencies are also incorporating GHG reduction and climate change mitigation in the goals of their long-range transportation plans. Case studies of MPO activities in integrating GHG reduction goals into transportation decision making can be found on the U.S. DOT's Transportation and Climate Change Clearinghouse. Some examples are provided below.

Click on the arrows below for detailed information about each example.

• Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) GO TO 2040 regional plan

  CMAP includes climate change mitigation in the goals of its GO TO 2040 regional plan. CMAP, with help from the Volpe Center, prepared a strategy paper on how goals to reduce GHG may be incorporated into the plan through policies, investments, and other actions. The paper takes the Chicago region's legislative and policy context into account while drawing on the experience of other peer regions doing the same. For example, GO TO 2040 recommendations include providing good alternatives to automobile travel to reduce GHG emissions while also reducing energy consumption and improving quality of life.

• Metro (Portland, Oregon region) 2035 Regional Transportation Plan

  The Transportation and climate change section of Metro's 2035 Regional Transportation Plan addresses how an integrated set of transportation investments, land use policies, and other strategies can most effectively reduce GHG emissions. As part of the plan, Metro commits to voluntarily monitoring GHG emissions and implementing specific GHG-reduction policy objectives and actions that reduce the need to drive and improve the operating efficiency of the transportation system.

  House Bill 2001 requires Metro to develop two or more land use and transportation planning scenarios. Metro's effort, known as the Climate Smart Communities Scenarios Project, includes requirements to adopt one of these scenarios and for the local jurisdictions within the Metro region to amend their comprehensive plans to be consistent with the adopted scenario.The departments of Transportation and Land Conservation and Development must provide technical and financial support.

• Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) 2035 Regional Transportation Plan Update

  H-GAC acknowledges the need for climate change adaptation and mitigation in the trends and challenges of its 2035 Regional Transportation Plan Update. As stated in the plan, H-GAC is working with TxDOT and research institutes in the region on the issue of GHG mitigation and establishing analytical methodologies for measuring the reduction of GHG emissions at the project level.

• Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) (Seattle region) Four-Part Greenhouse Gas Strategy

  PSRC is committed to reducing transportation-related GHG emissions in the region.The regional growth, transportation, and economic strategy, VISION 2040 refers to climate change mitigation in its goals, trends and challenges, strategies, and performance measures. It establishes annual average GHG emissions as a performance measure to monitor the plan. It further commits the agency to: development of a regional air quality guide and a climate change action plan, and working with other agencies and partners to develop greenhouse gas emission reduction estimates. PSRC's regional transportation plan, Transportation 2040 contains a Four-Part Greenhouse Gas Strategy. PSRC has updated its transportation model to incorporate GHG emissions analysis in the comparison of alternatives and scenarios.

• Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) (Philadelphia region) Connections long range plan

  DVRPC supports a goal to reduce regional greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent by 2035, which will put the region on track to achieve an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This reduction is considered necessary to keep the impacts of global climate change within an acceptable range. As part of this effort, DVRPC has outlined a regional goal to "Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% while building an energy-efficient economy" in its long range plan, Connections, adopted in 2009. More information about the plan and DVRPC's Energy and Climate Change Initiatives program area is available on their website.

• Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Metro Vision 2035 Plan

  DRCOG's Metro Vision 2035 Plan was recently updated with a focus on several sustainability goals, involving increase in urban density, reduction in GHG emissions, reduction in daily per capita vehicle miles traveled, and reduction in the number of single occupancy vehicle trips.

• Santa Fe Metropolitan Planning Organization Sustainable Santa Fe Plan

  The City of Santa Fe recently published its draft Sustainable Santa Fe Plan. The plan considers climate change and energy efficiency, among other aspects of sustainability. Transportation is one of several sectors addressed in the plan. The document discusses the impact of transportation on climate change, as well as several key determinants of transportation GHG emissions.