Federal CLEAN TEA bill includes street networks

Local road networks are included in “CLEAN TEA” legislation that was introduced in both the US Senate and House of Representatives in March. CLEAN TEA allocates revenues from carbon trading, which according to one estimate could generate $3 trillion by 2020, ten percent of which would go for sustainable transportation programs under the proposal. Freight and passenger rail systems, alternative fuel fleets, or any transportation initiative that reduces greenhouse gases could be funded — including money to maintain or build interconnected street networks, an idea that has been promoted by the Congress for the New Urbanism. Funding for the bill depends on passage of cap-and-trade greenhouse gas legislation. The Clean Low-Emissions Affordable New Transportation Equity Act (CLEAN TEA) was introduced by Sens. Thomas Carper (D-Del.) and Arlen Specter (R-Penn.) and Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.), Steven La Tourette (R-Ohio), Melissa Bean (D-Ill.), and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.).