The Role of Driving in Reducing GHG Emissions and Oil Consumption: Recommendations for Federal Transportation Policy

This report evaluates eight different U.S. transportation scenarios in order to show decision makers that there are opportunities—and challenges—in making federal transportation investments consistent with the goals of reducing oil consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These scenarios show the likely need to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in the future, prompting the question of whether existing transportation funding streams are set up to do so. This analysis provides quantitative estimates of the maximum level of VMT possible among light duty vehicles (LDVs) from 2010 through 2050 if the United States is to achieve targets to reduce oil consumption and GHG emissions. The analysis covers LDVs—cars, vans, and light trucks, which accounted for 62 percent of the oil consumed by the transportation sector in 2010 —but does not include air transportation, marine transportation, rail, or heavy duty vehicles.