South Florida transit and environmental organizations are set to protest the state's decision to turn down $320 million in federal funding for transportation projects aimed at reducing tailpipe emissions.
Florida鈥檚 Department of Transportation (FDOT) last month declined the influx of cash meant for public transit and traffic projects 鈥� because the funding was tied to climate change initiatives that state officials thought were too political.
The $320.4 million earmarked for Florida was part of the Federal Highway Administration鈥檚 (FHWA's) Carbon Reduction Program 鈥� an initiative to reduce harmful emissions specifically from the nation鈥檚 roadways.
FDOT had already planned to use the funding on traffic projects like roundabouts, additional parking for freight trucks to reduce long-distance trucking time and electric transit buses, according to the department鈥檚 鈥淐arbon Reduction Quick Guide鈥� presentation. The presentation includes the state鈥檚 projection that highly urban areas like Miami-Dade and Broward Counties should expect even more traffic congestion if nothing is done.
READ MORE: Environmental group's 'shock' as state snubs $320m in federal funding to reduce pollution
But FDOT recently made an about-face when department Secretary Jared Perdue sent a letter to federal officials declining to be a part of the program, calling it 鈥渃ontinued politicization of our roadways,鈥� as first reported by the .
According to a final rule from the FHWA on its greenhouse gas emission regulations, the federal agency does not require states in the National Highway system to meet specific emission goals. It only asks that states make an effort toward reducing emissions.
"FHWA is only requiring that State DOTs and MPOs establish declining targets for [greenhouse gas] emissions on the NHS. The FHWA is neither requiring any specific targets nor mandating any penalties for failing to achieve these targets," a states.
Meanwhile, Floridians are facing more active storm seasons and rise and climate change, and the has identified Florida as one of the states particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change on quality of life and the economy.
Local protest
In the face of this change and loss of valuable project funding, a number of local groups have aligned to stage a protest.
鈥淭his is a big deal. This is money that could solve a lot of problems for us. So, we're really trying to bring it home and show people that this is how this affects them,鈥� said Nicholas Duran, advocacy manager for .
Transit Alliance is a South Florida public transit and pedestrian advocacy nonprofit. The group plans to protest FDOT鈥檚 decision alongside other nonprofits this Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Maurice A. Ferr茅 Park in downtown Miami.
Duran told SA国际传谋 that people don鈥檛 always realize who makes the decisions for major roadway projects, and that FDOT decisions can sometimes be opaque and not include public input. He said he hopes Wednesday鈥檚 protest will help to connect the dots for people to know the decisions the state鈥檚 transportation department makes and how they affect their lives.
鈥淭his is money that we're losing for safer streets, traffic reductions, bike and pedestrian trails 鈥� improvements that are gonna help get us out of our cars and live healthier, more connected lifestyles,鈥� he told SA国际传谋. 鈥淲e're dealing with roads that flood even on sunny days. Those funds could actually be used for adopting better construction practices.鈥�
Transit Alliance and their partners plan to hold future actions and bring more public attention to FDOT.
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