Transportation and Climate Change Clearinghouse
DOT Programs
Automotive Fuel Economy Program
Standards for automobile fuel economy were established under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) of 1975, and have subsequently been increased and expanded to include most light trucks. The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program was established to determine vehicle manufacturer compliance with these standards. CAFE is the sales weighted average fuel economy, expressed in miles per gallon (mpg), of a manufacturer's fleet of passenger cars or light trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 8,500 lbs. or less, manufactured for sale in the United States, for any given model year. Fuel economy is defined as the average mileage traveled by an automobile per gallon of gasoline (or equivalent amount of other fuel) consumed as measured in accordance with the testing and evaluation protocol set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program
The CMAQ program provides over $8.1 billion dollars in funds to State DOTs, MPOs, and transit agencies to invest in projects that reduce emissions from transportation-related sources.
Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Transportation Systems and Infrastructure: The Gulf Coast Study
To better understand potential climate change impacts on transportation infrastructure and identify adaptation strategies, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) is conducting a comprehensive, multi-phase study of climate change impacts in the Central Gulf Coast region. This region is home to a complex multimodal network of transportation infrastructure and several large population centers, and it plays a critical national economic role in the import and export of oil and gas, agricultural products, and other goods. The study is sponsored by the U.S. DOT's Center for Climate Change and Environmental Forecasting in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is managed by FHWA.
It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air
A unique collaborative effort of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This program emphasizes simple and convenient actions people can take to make a difference in air quality when practiced on a wide scale.
Programs and Policies to Reduce Aviation Emissions
Several programs sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation focus on ways to improve aircraft operations and criteria pollutant emissions, and have the potential to also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Bicycle & Pedestrian Program of the Federal Highway Administration's Office
The Bicycle & Pedestrian Program of the Federal Highway Administration's Office of Human and Natural Environment promotes bicycle and pedestrian transportation use, safety, and accessibility. Each State has a Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator in its State Department of Transportation to promote and facilitate the increased use of non-motorized transportation, including developing facilities for the use of pedestrians and bicyclists and public educational, promotional, and safety programs for using such facilities. The State Coordinators can help you with questions specific to your State.
