A Green New Deal for City and Suburban Transportation

The majority of federal transportation spending incentivizes road-building, leaving limited funds available for road repair and more sustainable modes like transit, walking, and biking. Such spending encourages more driving and increased emissions, due to limited investments in low-carbon transportation. This report provides a series of policy recommendations the federal government should take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; these include incentivizing and requiring communities to design transit-friendly streets and safe roadways, prioritizing roadway maintenance over expansion, and putting the majority of Americans within walking distance of public transit by 2030, by providing agencies with operating assistance to run more buses and trains, expanding overall funding for transit projects, and encouraging transit-oriented development.