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States and Regions: Clean Transport

Aragon

  • Subsidies for the improvement of the management of transport fleets by road and for the acquisition of private and industrial vehicles powered by bio-fuels on the basis of the energy efficiency improvements and energy savings that these generate.
  • Target for the use of biofuels in official vehicles of 100% by 2012.

Basque Country

  • Target of a 21% energy efficiency improvement in the transportation sector by 2012.
  • The creation and extension of public transportation infrastructure.
  • Land use planning directives to encourage concentrated, resource-diverse urban planning models less dependent on the use of transport.
  • Encouragement of traffic charges in cities.

Bavaria

  • Promotion of public transport with ¬1.25 billion (US$1.57 billion).
  • New traffic management systems.

British Columbia

  • Investment in the Provincial Transit Plan to expand services and double transit ridership.
  • The purchase of newer, cleaner transit buses across BC.
  • Implementation of tailpipe emissions standards, equivalent to those laid out in California's 2004 legislation.
  • Tax exemptions including waiving the Provincial Sales Tax on hybrid vehicles, scooters, electric motorcycles and electric bicycles.

Brittany

  • Development of train transportation including policies to increase regularity, speed and comfort.

California

  • If passed, the Pavley AB 1493 Tailpipe Standards would reduce GHG emissions from new passenger vehicles 22% by 2012 and 30% by 2016.
  • The Low Carbon Fuel Standard calls for a 10% reduction in the carbon content of the state's transportation fuels.
  • The California Hydrogen Highway Network (CaH2Net) is Governor Schwartzenegger's vision to build a network of hydrogen fueling stations.
  • The Goods Movement Action Plan aims to reduce emissions from the movement of goods.
  • Objective to reduce diesel pollution from ports and other sources by 85% by 2020 from 2000 levels.
  • The Heavy-Duty Vehicle Idling Emission Reduction Program involves regulatory measures to limit the idling of sleeper berth equipped diesel trucks.

Catalonia

  • Subsidies for vehicle renovation on the basis of energy efficiency improvements.
  • Free efficient driving courses for professional and non-professional drivers.

Connecticut

  • Adoption of the California Low Emission Vehicle II standards, effective for 2008 model year vehicles.
  • Adoption of California tailpipe standards for greenhouse gas vehicle emissions, which would lower GHG emissions by 30% if implementation is allowed.
  • Development of a greenhouse gas labeling program for new vehicles sold or leased in the state beginning with the 2009 model year.

Flanders

  • The Transportation Tax Reform is a combined adjustment of the registration tax and the annual road tax which takes into account the environmental performance of a vehicle.

Ile-de-France

  • The regional council signs "green network" contracts with communes to develop cycling routes and create a balance in towns between motorized and non-polluting forms of transport.

Manitoba

  • The Driving Green program includes measures to speed up the retirement of older vehicles, bans the import of older high-emitting vehicles and expands anti-idling programs.
  • Climate change legislation (2008) requires a made-in-Manitoba approach to ensure that a greater percentage of high-efficiency vehicles become part of the private fleet.

New South Wales

  • The voluntary green vehicle registration programme allows people to choose to pay more and have their emissions offset by planting trees.
  • An environmental rating scheme for heavy vehicles recognises better environmental performance and new leading edge technologies used in trucks and buses.
  • Improved rail services though The Rail Clearways Program and bus services through bus reform, including the Passenger Transport Amendment (Bus Reform) Act 2004.

North Rhine-Westphalia

  • The NRW Hydrogen HyWay, due in 2010, is being built and hydrogen-fueled public buses and filling stations are being developed.

Ontario

  • Through MoveOntario 2020, the province will provide funding for new or improved rapid transit.
  • Committed to develop a low carbon fuel standard that will require carbon emissions from transportation fuels to decrease 10% by 2020.
  • Rebates for the purchase of plug-in electric and battery electric passenger vehicles based on the battery capacity of the vehicle.
  • Green vehicle license plates will allow electric vehicle drivers access to less-congested High Occupancy Vehicle lanes even if there is only one occupant.
  • The Green Commercial Vehicle Program (GCVP) provides grants for the freight sector to promote alternative fuel vehicles and anti-idling devices.
  • Reforms to Ontario's weight and dimension regulations for heavy duty vehicles includes accommodation of fuel savings technologies.
  • A Long Combination Vehicle (LCV) pilot project will move goods safely, at a lower cost and with fewer GHG emissions than single-trailer trucks.
  • Mandatory speed limiter legislation limits heavy-duty truck speeds to 105 km/h and reduces GHG emissions.

Québec

  • The Québec Public Transit Policy aims to increase ridership through improved services, new infrastructure and equipment and support for other alternatives such as walking and cycling.
  • The Coupez le moteur! Program supports municipalities that adopt regulations aimed at countering vehicle idling.
  • Funding for multi-modal (maritime and rail) projects that engender GHG reductions.
  • Funding to facilitate the acquisition of equipment that improves vehicle fleet energy efficiency.
  • Québec has adopted a draft regulatory enforcement of GHG-emission standards for model year 2010 and forward vehicles sold in the province. Québec sees its regulation coming into effect concurrently with those of other North American jurisdictions.
  • Regulation on the mandatory activation of speed limiting devices on all trucks carrying goods and setting the maximum speed for these vehicles at 105 Km/hour.
  • A refundable credit upon purchase of a new hybrid or electric vehicle.
  • An upcoming Electric Car Action Plan has the aim of accelerating the introduction of electric cars in Quebec as well as the development of a new electric car industry.

Queensland

  • Investment in public transport infrastructure and services including rail, bus, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure and community engagement programs such as TravelSmart.
  • TransLink oversees the provision of standardized fares and single ticketing for trains, buses and ferries.
  • Queensland is introducing the go card to make travel on public transport more efficient and convenient.

Sao Paulo State

  • Investment in modernizing and extending the Metropolitan Subway and public transportation within the metropolitan area.

Scotland

  • Support for the creation of Sustainable Travel Demonstration Communities which seek to initiate a switch to more sustainable means of transport.
  • Investment in public transport for rail and tram and services and projects.
  • Choose Another Way offers on-line support and guidance to promote travel planning and sustainable transport choices.

South Australia

  • Target to increase the use of public transport to 10% of metropolitan weekday passenger vehicle kilometres travelled by 2018.
  • Investment in public transportation upgrades, electrification of the metropolitan rail network and the most environmentally-friendly diesel-powered buses.
  • Implementation of Safety in Numbers, A Cycling Strategy for SA 20062010, a statewide comprehensive cycling strategy
  • Reducing the environmental impact of government fleet vehicles.

South Holland

  • The Province of South Holland transformed its petrol fueled carfleet into a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-fueled car fleet and financially stimulates the introduction of a network of strategically located CNG-filling stations in South Holland.
  • Public transport buses need to pass specific emission standards.

Victoria

  • The Victorian Transport Plan provides for new investment in public transport to manage stronger than expected growth in demand.
  • TravelSmart encourages Victorians to reduce their reliance on cars and use walking, cycling or public transport for travel to and from workplaces, schools and universities.
  • Support for hybrid vehicles for taxis and the Government car fleet, registration discounts for hybrid vehicles and trials of hybrid public buses.
  • Support for hybrid car manufacturing.

Wales

  • The Wales Transport Strategy includes GHG emissions reductions from transport as a key priority.

Wallonia

  • The Walloon Region Air and Climate Plan includes actions to encourage cycling and walking and shifting away from road transport of goods.

Western Australia

  • A bus fleet replacement program for diesel buses.
  • Implementation of the Sustainable Transport Energy Program (STEP).
  • Implementation of the State Rail Freight Strategy to guide Government rail initiatives.

Yukon

  • The Yukon Government is equipping heavy-duty vehicles with monitors for performance, including idling time.
  • The Yukon Government is increasing the fuel efficiency of the vehicle fleet through the purchase of smaller, more efficient vehicles.