US Secretary of Transportation calls for “Livable Communities”
Secretary of Transportation Ray La Hood, in testimony before the US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, stated that the government’s efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and fossil fuel dependence will not be enough unless motor vehicle use is reduced as well, and one way to do that is to increase the “livability” of communities.
The subject of the July 14th hearing was Transportation’s Role in Climate Change and Greenhouse Gasses. La Hood began by outlining the Obama administrations plan to increase fuel-efficiency in motor vehicles and stated that legislation is on the way to make that mandatory with the next 3 to 7 years. He then went on to say that increasing gas mileage on vehicles is not enough, however. “Even if vehicle fuel efficiency were to reach 55 mpg by 2030, we would still see only modest decreases in transportation CO2 emissions without a decrease in vehicle miles traveled (VMT),” stated LaHood. “One way to achieve significant reductions in VMT is to develop more livable communities.”
LaHood then outlined several steps that can be taken to develop “livable communities:”
- Provide more transportation choices, such as walking, biking, and public transportation
- Promote housing developments close to alternative transit sources
- Promote mixed-use development so that good and services are easily accessible through alternative transportation methods.
LaHood stated that in urban areas he foresees better sidewalks and more bike lanes as a way increase transportation access for all. In rural areas, intercity rail and bus services are a viable option. “As we consider surface transportation reauthorization — both in the short and longer-term — the Department will prioritize creating a livability program that measurably works to reduce VMT, greenhouse gas emissions, and also provide added economic benefits to Americans in all geographic locations,” said LaHood.
