Congress·In Committee·S. 2890

Sen. Markey Introduces GREEN Streets Act to Mandate Carbon Cuts in State Transportation Plans

GREEN Streets Act

6 months ago·View on Congress.gov

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Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

Senate

House

President

Law

Key Points

This bill requires states and cities to create plans that actively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the total number of miles people drive. It sets a national goal of reaching net-zero emissions from public roads by encouraging alternatives to driving alone in cars.
Before building new highway lanes or starting projects costing over $25 million, officials would have to prove the project is more cost-effective than adding bus lines or trains. They must also study how the construction would affect air quality in nearby low-income neighborhoods and communities of color.
States that fail to meet their emission reduction targets would be forced to redirect a large chunk of their federal highway budget. Specifically, they would have to spend at least 33% of certain funds on 'green' projects like bike lanes, sidewalks, and expanded bus or rail service.
The policy creates new ways to measure success, such as how easily people can reach jobs, grocery stores, and doctors by public transit within 45 minutes. It also tracks how many homes have access to safe sidewalks, crosswalks, and dedicated bike lanes.

Energy EnvironmentInfrastructure Transportation

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Sep 18, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Sep 18, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Within 1 year of enactment

Department of Transportation establishes new national transit access standards and greenhouse gas performance measures

States and metro areas would learn the new benchmarks they must meet for emissions, transit accessibility, and vehicle miles traveled — setting the stage for how federal highway money gets spent in their communities.

Within 1-2 years of enactment

States must set or update performance targets under new greenhouse gas and transit standards

Every state would have to commit to specific goals for cutting emissions and improving transit access. States that fall short could lose control of how they spend a big chunk of their federal highway dollars.