In this section:

Expert staff

Rebecca Shaw Rebecca Shaw, Ph.D. Associate Vice President, Ecosystems
Michael Regan Michael Regan Director of Energy Effiiciency, Climate
Scott Edwards Scott Edwards Director of Latin America & Caribbean, Oceans

Find more expert staff »

Smart transportation policy approaches

Our approach is to harness the power of market forces to reduce congestion efficiently as possible, while generating funding to reinvest in transit.

  • Making road investments work

    Roads are pathways for more than just cars. People should never have to choose to drive a short errand simply because other forms of travel are not safe.

    Highway funding led to more cars, less choices

    Early in the 20th century, walking and bicycling to work or to do errands was common in the United States, and seeing bikes on the back of streetcars was not unusual. Commuters often combined walking, cycling and taking mass transit to get around.

    Find out more »

  • Road pricing makes sense

    Road pricing (also called congestion pricing) is based on common sense supply and demand principles. When demand for the road is high, the value placed on using the road—a toll—is higher than other times of the day.

    This pricing signal encourages drivers to reschedule trips, use alternative travel modes (like transit), or pay a higher fee for driving. The greatest environmental benefit accumulates when revenues generated by the tolls are used to improve local transit service.

    Find out more »

  • Car sharing

    The average American drives approximately 12,000 miles a year.

    Car sharing is a great way to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) while still providing access to a car for those errands or trips that can’t be done by walking, biking or transit.

    Car sharing participants reduce their environmental impact and avoid the hassles of owning a car: insurance premiums, high gas prices, maintenance, and long waits at the DMV.

    Find out more »

  • Parking pricing

    In the U.S., an abundance of cheap parking encourages a lot of driving. It is estimated that 75% of employers provide free or sharply discounted parking, and in suburban areas, that number is up to 90%.

    This free parking ignores the cost of real estate, construction, operation, maintenance, and other externalities like lighting, security, and air pollution.

    Find out more »

  • Drive less, pay less for insurance

    What if your car insurance rates were tied to the number of miles (or hours) you drove, so the less you drive, the less you pay?

    That is what pay-as-you-drive (PAYD) insurance pricing does — on top of the usual pricing factors, it links premiums to how much you use your vehicle.

    Find out more »

  • Cleaning up dirty school buses

    Every day, half a million school buses safely carry 24 million American children to school, field trips and athletic events.

    Unfortunately, most buses are powered by diesel engines that actually pollute the air inside the bus. Studies show the pollution gets trapped inside the bus, where kids breathe it in.

    Find out more »

Plan your giving

Our planned giving programs include charitable legacies, stock gifts and donor advised funds.

Find the giving option that suits you

Support our work

We can't protect the planet without you. Your donations allow us to fulfill our mission.

Donate now

Become a member

Our members are the strength behind our work. Help us solve the most critical environmental problems.

Join our team of 750,000+ members