FTA to remove 'social cost of carbon' from transit grant requirements

Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Administrator Marc Molinaro today announced the agency's proposed updated guidelines that remove the "social cost of carbon" calculation as part of the rating criteria for grants under the Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program.

CIG is the federal government’s largest discretionary grant program to fund transit capital investments, including heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, streetcars and bus rapid transit.

"These proposed actions remove unnecessary regulatory requirements and provide the best support possible for locally driven transit projects," said Molinaro in a press release.

The proposed changes call for removing the social cost of carbon calculation from the environmental benefits section of the CIG policy guidance. Instead, the agency will revert to a previously used methodology that relies on the Environmental Protection Agency's National Ambient Air Quality Standards designation based on which city a transit project is located.

FTA published a proposed interim guidance update for public comment. The proposed revisions address President Trump's executive orders titled "Initial Recissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions"; "Unleashing American Energy"; and "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing."

FTA is also publishing a request for information to solicit public input on a comprehensive update to CIG program guidance at a later date. The comment period ends Sept. 18.