Policy Cornerstones
Building an efficient, affordable, and sustainable transportation system that moves everyone is essential to creating strong, vibrant, and healthy communities and a robust economy. Transportation is core to nearly all we do.
Every person relies on transportation to access jobs, attend school, take care of their family, access food and medical care, or to simply have fun. While we have continued to invest in the infrastructure that brought us through the 20th century, this century's new transportation technologies and greater understanding of environmental, social, and health implications give us the opportunity to make our transportation infrastructure more efficient and productive.
In this new transportation environment, Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies can increase access to sustainable transportation at all levels of our society. These cost-effective strategies and incentives move more people using existing infrastructure while also reducing local air, water, and noise pollution; decarbonizing our transportation systems; improving public safety and health; and stimulating our local, regional, and national economies.
ACT is committed to a better journey for everyone in our communities, as we strive to improve the quality of life for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Focus on Moving People
ACT believes that transportation, environmental, and economic policies at the federal, state, and local level should focus on creating a sustainable, equitable, and safe transportation system that benefits all. This means we need a more comprehensive strategy at the federal, state, regional, and local levels to move people, not cars.
- Define and codify TDM into federal legislation. This legislation will solidify the importance and support of TDM as a key strategy for transportation services and its efficiency.
- Support legislation that gives bike and carpool commuters pre-tax commuter benefits similar to those who drive and park or take public transportation to work.
- Identify opportunities within federal, state, and local legislation related to transportation, environmental, and economic policy to incorporate TDM strategies and programming.
- Support actions that provide greater flexibility in projects that can be funded through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program, making it clear the eligibility of TDM programs and projects.
- Create a stronger link between federal transit formulas and the number of people being moved by emphasizing passenger miles versus revenue miles.
Invest in New Technologies, Practices, and Business Models
ACT supports policies that encourage investments in new technologies and removes barriers preventing new practices and business models that furthers our goal to move people safely, equitably, and efficiently.
- Support initiatives and development of competitive funding programs that leverage innovative mobility solutions such as microtransit, shared-use mobility services, carpooling and vanpooling through public/private partnerships, innovative delivery models, and expanding access to transit through technology advancements.
- Support e-bike tax credit or rebate legislation.
- Support local policy initiatives such as TDM ordinances, parking cash-out programs, and parking reform that reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), expand access, and improve transportation offerings.
Integrate & Leverage All Entities Delivering Transportation Solutions
Public and private sector mobility providers are taking an active role in improving our transportation system. ACT supports policies that promote equity by including all stakeholders, specifically elevating voices from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities, in the planning and delivery of transportation solutions.
- Support the removal of regulatory barriers that prevent organizations from using federal and state transportation funds to create programs that are proven to lead to mode shift.
- Support the adoption of requirements for public disclosure of Scope 3 emissions, with emphasis on commuting and business travel.
- Support legislation that provides new or increases existing levels of funding for TDM strategies within disadvantaged and underserved communities.
Create a Clean & Sustainable Transportation System
Providing people with real options will help decarbonize our transportation system, reduce congestion, and result in cleaner air and healthier communities. ACT supports policies that use a sustainability, safety, equity, health, and cost-effectiveness lens to measure performance of projects and programs.
- Promote the use of performance metrics that can move a project or program towards a more sustainable mode split and reduced carbon emissions.
- Support the proposed federal GHG performance metric that requires States and MPOs to set GHG reduction targets and rewards States and MPOs who allocate funding for projects that reduce VMT.
- Support national, state, and local initiatives that take into account transportation GHG emissions in carbon emissions and Environmental, Social, and Governance assessments.