Transportation Performance Management

SENT BY ELECTRONIC MAIL

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration

MEMORANDUM

This memo is to provide Division Offices, and State DOTs with additional information regarding the initial target establishment and reporting timelines for the new Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions measure. Please note that FHWA will be holding a Zoom session with interested State DOTs (no registration required) on January 4, 2024 at 1:00 pm ET

ACTION: Division Offices should share this information with their State DOT as soon as practical or no later than 12/29/2023.

State DOT Initial GHG Report:

The first Performance Period for this measure started on January 1, 2022, and extends 4 years. [§ 490.105(e)(4)(i)(C)]. Per §§ 490.105(e)(1)(ii) and 490.107(d), State DOTs shall first establish and report 4-year targets for this measure in the State Initial GHG Report, due no later than February 1, 2024. The State Initial GHG Report is a one-time report. As with other TPM measures, when establishing targets for the GHG measure, State DOTs shall coordinate with relevant MPOs on the selection of targets in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 135(d) (2)(B)(i)(II) to ensure consistency, to the maximum extent practicable, consistent with 23 CFR 490.105(e)(2).

To facilitate the initial report, FHWA has prepared a simple electronic form to use when submitting this Report, and has summarized the data States need to calculate the metric, and populate the form.

• State Initial GHG Report Form:
• Download link: https://www.regulations.gov/document/FHWA-2021-0004-39831
• State DOTs will complete all of the entry fields in this form using Adobe Acrobat.
• Please contact TPMreporting@dot.gov if the State DOT is not able to use this form.
• Calendar Year 2022 Fuel Data and CO2 Factors [Corrected]:
• Download link: https://www.regulations.gov/document/FHWA-2021-0004-39835
• State DOTs will use the corrected table to identify the Gasoline & Gasohol Fuel value to populate field 4(a) in the Initial GHG Report Form.
• State DOTs will use the corrected table to identify the Special Fuels value to populate field 4(b) in the Initial GHG Report Form.
• Calendar Year 2022 Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Data:
• Download link: https://www.regulations.gov/document/FHWA-2021-0004-39834
• State DOTs will use the NHS VMT value in this table to populate field 4(e) in the Initial GHG Report Form
• State DOTs will use the Total VMT value in this table to populate field 4(f) in the Initial GHG Report Form
• Please note that the “GHG Metric for CY 2022” field in the Initial GHG Report Form is not automatically calculated. The State DOT needs to calculate this value outside of the form using the inputs included in fields 4(a) through 4(f) before entering the metric in the form.

State DOT's will submit the completed Initial GHG Report Form by emailing it to TPMreporting@dot.gov, with the subject line, "XX_2024 State Initial GHG Report". The two-letter state abbreviation should be used in place of "XX". The .pdf file name and the subject of the email should be the same.

FHWA encourages the State DOTs to coordinate with their Division Office prior to their official submittal to TPMreporting@dot.gov. FHWA HQ staff will review the submittals to TPMreporting@dot.gov and coordinate with the Division Office if there are any questions for the State DOT.

Key Dates:

• February 1, 2024 - Deadline for State DOTs to submit their State Initial GHG Report to FHWA.
• February 1 - March 1, 2024 - FHWA-HQ will review the submittals and reach out to State DOTs via the FHWA Division with any questions.
• March 4, 2024 - The 2024 State Initial GHG Report submittal is closed, and submittal data is archived.
• October 1, 2024 - Mid Performance Period Progress Report is due. State DOTs can amend the 4-year target for the GHG measure initially established through the 2/1/2024 reporting. (Optional)

Background:

On December 7, 2023, FHWA published a final rule amending 23 CFR 490, establishing a greenhouse gas (GHG) performance measure as part of Transportation Performance Management. [23 CFR 490.105(c)(5)] [88 FR 85364] The GHG performance measure is the percent change in tailpipe Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions on the National Highway System (NHS) compared to the reference year of calendar year 2022. [§ 490.507(b)]. Targets established for the GHG performance measure shall be declining targets for reducing tailpipe CO2 emissions on the NHS. [§ 490.105(e)(10) and (f)(1)] The GHG Final Rule applies to State departments of transportation (DOTs) and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs). The GHG Final Rule does not change any of the reporting requirements or timelines for the other 17 TPM measures in 23 CFR part 490. As noted above, State DOTs will first establish targets by February 1, 2024. Starting in 2026, and every 4 years thereafter, State DOTs will establish 2-year and 4-year targets for this measure and will report biennially by October 1st of each even year. [§§ 490.105 and 490.107(b)]. Reporting on the measure shall be consistent with the requirements in § 490.107(b) and will be submitted via the Performance Management Form (PMF) beginning in 2026.

Resources:

Existing resources that may be valuable in implementing the requirements of the GHG measure can be found on:

• FHWA, TPM webpage: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tpm/
• The recording of the December 13th external webinar is posted on the TPM Rulemaking page. The slides will be added shortly. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tpm/rule.cfm
• FHWA, GHG Performance Measure Webpage: www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/ghg_measure/
• U.S. DOT, Climate Change Center, Greenhouse Gas Analysis Resources and Tools page: https://www.transportation.gov/priorities/climate-and-sustainability/greenhouse-gas-analysis-resources-and-tools

Upcoming Events:

Upcoming events related to the February 1 reporting date. Community Chat with State DOTs (Part 1): January 4th 1 pm ET https://usdot.zoomgov.com/j/1613760714?pwd=MUk5ME04TXViLzRTR1JMU1cyZVNUZz09

We are planning additional outreach to cover various topics related to GHG Final rule implementation, and will announce via Division Offices and TPM website at (https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tpm/resources/presentations.cfm) please check often for updates.

Please submit any questions regarding the reporting for the GHG measure to Alexis.Kuklenski@dot.gov or TPMreporting@dot.gov.