Drive Less, Live More: How States Can Lead the Way in Climate-Smart Transportation

This report by RMI argues that US state departments of transportation (DOTs) must shift their focus from roadway expansion and vehicle electrification toward reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by investing in pedestrian infrastructure, transit, and micro-mobility to meet climate targets and improve public safety.

• RMI analysis indicates that a 20 percent reduction in national per-capita vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by 2050 could result in significant annual benefits, including the avoidance of 6,000 fatalities, $259 billion in vehicle fuel and maintenance costs, and 2.3 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
• Transportation pollution in the US is driven by a reliance on cars and trucks, which contributed 23 percent of climate pollution in 2019, rising to nearly 40 percent when fuel production and embodied carbon are included. Efficiency gains in vehicles are partially offset by an increase in vehicle size and weight, influenced by policy loopholes for "light" trucks and tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act that favor expensive electric SUVs.
• Despite the availability of federal funding through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), many states continue to prioritize highway expansions. RMI suggests these funds should instead be used for "complete streets," transit access, micro-mobility subsidies, and congestion pricing to effectively reduce VMT.
• Reducing VMT provides systemic benefits beyond climate targets, including reducing the number of vehicles that need to be electrified and easing pressure on battery supply chains. Additionally, shifting to active transportation could prevent 45,000 deaths by improving public health and save the average US household up to $2,000 in automotive costs and 55 driving hours annually.
• Policy barriers hinder the transition to climate-smart transportation, with twenty-three states constitutionally prohibiting the use of gas tax revenues for transit. RMI advocates for a "fix-it-first" approach that prioritizes repairing existing infrastructure over new projects.

APA

RMI (2024). Drive Less, Live More: How States Can Lead the Way in Climate-Smart Transportation. https://rmi.org/resources/drive-less-live-more-how-states-can-lead-the-way-in-climate-smart-transportation/

Chicago

RMI. Drive Less, Live More: How States Can Lead the Way in Climate-Smart Transportation. 2024. https://rmi.org/resources/drive-less-live-more-how-states-can-lead-the-way-in-climate-smart-transportation/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Drive Less, Live More: How States Can Lead the Way in Climate-Smart Transportation |date=8 January 2024 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/drive-less-live-more-how-states-can-lead-the-way-in-climate-smart-transportation/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2024drive, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Drive Less, Live More: How States Can Lead the Way in Climate-Smart Transportation}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2024}, month = jan, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/drive-less-live-more-how-states-can-lead-the-way-in-climate-smart-transportation/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }