Transportation and Climate Alignment Act

Investing in public transit, walking, and biking

Transportation is the second largest expense for most Americans after housing and is the largest source of climate pollution. The Transportation and Climate Alignment Act (TCA) encourages more investment in public transit, walking and biking infrastructure, and transit-oriented development. These investments will reduce people’s time sitting in traffic and give Maryland residents more affordable options to get to work, school, and other destinations while cutting harmful pollution from our highways.

Maryland Delegate Mark Edelson (46th District) and Senator Shelly Hettleman (11th District) are sponsoring the Transportation and Climate Alignment Act (TCA) in the 2025 Maryland General Assembly (HB 84).

Read our fact sheet to learn more!

  • The Transportation and Climate Alignment Act (TCA) would:

    • Create accountability and transparency about projects that increase pollution and commuter costs: The bill would require the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) to measure the greenhouse gas emissions of all major capital transportation projects in the state’s six-year capital transportation budget and determine if the overall budget aligns with the state’s goals to cut climate pollution as required by the Climate Solutions Now Act. 


    • Invest in public transit, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and sustainable land use: The bill would require MDOT to offset greenhouse gas emissions from highway expansion projects over $100 million by providing clean transportation alternatives to affected residents. In addition, MDOT must ensure the state’s transportation budget aligns with Maryland’s climate goals by investing in new projects that cut pollution. This includes public transit, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, development that reduces vehicle traffic, and solar projects on MDOT property. MDOT must prioritize these investments in overburdened and underserved communities. Highway maintenance projects and highway projects funded for construction or that have a completed environmental review process prior to July 2025 would be exempt from this process.

    • According to a 2023 survey by the National Association of Realtors, 79% of U.S. residents said being within an easy walk of shops, parks, and other destinations is very/somewhat important and 65% said having public transit nearby is very/somewhat important.

    • A 2020 report by Transportation For America and Smart Growth America found that the climate benefits of more fuel efficient cars have been undermined by increases in driving. Overall, car and truck emissions grew by 22% from 1990 to 2017 despite improved fuel economy of America’s vehicle fleet.

    • According to an analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists, Latinos and African Americans are exposed to 11% and 12% higher particulate matter pollution (fine particles that enter our lungs) from vehicles compared to the average Maryland resident.

  • Saves households time and money: The average Maryland household would save over $3,000 a year from the build out of new, affordable transportation choices, like more transit, walking, and biking and shorter automobile trips.† These new options would save each Maryland resident from 26 hours of traffic per year†.

    Equitable access to opportunities:  Every Marylander should have affordable and reliable access to jobs, housing, education, food, healthcare, and recreation no matter where they live. It is critical that populations with less access to vehicles, especially Black and Brown communities, low-income communities, people with disabilities, students, and seniors have better mobility options. Only 8.5% of jobs in the Baltimore region are accessible within one hour by public transit.

    Reduces climate and air pollution. Vehicles make up the largest source of climate pollution from the transportation sector in the state and are a major contributor to unhealthy ozone pollution. Maryland’s 2023 Climate Pollution Reduction Plan indicated that reducing vehicle traffic, measured as vehicle miles traveled (VMT), is necessary for the state to meet its climate targets. The state’s climate plan includes a goal to reduce per capita VMT 20% by 2050, which the Rocky Mountain Institute finds would reduce climate pollution by 55 Million Metric Tons (the same as preventing the annual emissions of over 130 methane gas power plants). Governor Moore's 2024 executive order on climate change required the state to invest in measures that reduce VMT.  

    Improves our health. A report by Rails to Trails Conservancy found that the health savings from increased physical activity due to active transportation (e.g., cycling, walking) is $20 billion annually.

    Increased safety. Traveling by public transportation is 10 times safer per mile than traveling by car. If Maryland were to meet its goals to reduce VMT 20% by 2050, it would reduce automobile crashes in Maryland and prevent on average 171 crash fatalities per year in Maryland†. 

    Create jobs. Every $1 billion invested in public transportation supports and creates approximately 50,000 jobs. According to a study by the Political Economy Research Institute, bicycle-only projects created more jobs compared to road-only projects (11.41 jobs vs. 7.75 jobs per $1 million invested).

Groups Supporting Transportation and Climate Alignment Act: