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Brief of diving:
- The Federal Traffic Administration proposed updated guidelines on its billionaire capital investment program that would eliminate the calculation of the “social carbon cost” as part of the traffic subsidies qualification criteria, calling it “a new green agreement carbon scam”.
- The FTA posted on Tuesday a public comment request in the federal register. The comments are due on September 2.
- “These proposed actions eliminate unnecessary regulatory requirements and provide the best possible support for locally promoted traffic projects,” said FTA administrator Marc Molinaro in a statement.
Divide vision:
The Investment and Infrastructure Job Law provided $ 3 billion a year for five years until 2026, along with advanced appropriations of $ 1.6 billion a year for CIG funds. These subsidies are one of the main programs of the federal government to support investments in public transport, commuter train, light railway, trams and fast bus traffic.
The proposed policy orientation change would review the methodology to evaluate environmental benefits through kilometers of vehicles traveled to estimate the effect of each project on air quality, greenhouse gas emissions and other factors, since 2013.
“After several years of experience with the measure, the FTA has determined that VMT -based calculation adds an unnecessary load and complexity to the evaluation process,” says the agency.
The first commentator acknowledged the agency’s desire to reduce the regulatory load of applicants, but expressed concern about the proposed change in the methodology. “The VMT methodology allows for empirical modeling of induced travel, change of mode and long -term sustainability impacts,” said commentator Joseph Wilson. “Deleting it can reduce the ability to compare projects based on its environmental performance, which could undermine the objectives of the conscious climate infrastructure.”
The FTA published an additional request of information on Tuesday to request the contributions of the traffic authorities, planning officials, states, cities, the private sector and the public on changes wider to the orientation of the CIG program, needed every two years.
The application asks the answer to three questions about how to better evaluate the criteria of economic development and land use related to population growth, traffic -oriented development and opportunity areas. Comments must receive on September 18.
For the 2026 financial year, the FTA requests $ 3.8 billion from $ 4.6 billion available for the CIG program and the accelerated project delivery program.
