The Obama administration continued to water its green initiative in January.

Speaking at the EMBARQ’s transportation conference, the Environmental Protection Agency’s assistant administrator for air and radiation, Gina McCarthy, said White House officials must align together and work on cutting vehicle-miles traveled (VMT) in the U.S.

This past summer U.S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood was the first to suggest that more Americans need to get out of their cars and find alternative forms of transportation, but now it appears the EPA is taking a more proactive role.

McCarthy said lowering VMT is one of three initiatives of the EPA, with the other two being the encouragement of emission-reducing vehicle technology and the promotion of cleaner-burning fuels.

“When we say transportation, everybody thinks ‘car,’” McCarthy said. “That’s a challenge for us as individuals, as a society.”

On Jan. 7, the EPA announced it will attempt to tighten federal air quality standards for ozone from .075 parts per million to a level between .70 and .60. According to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), the new restriction could cause 193 to 328 new counties to fall into “non-attainment” status and potentially subject them to a penalty of having federal highway funds withheld.

ARTBA, which claims the transportation sector has “significantly reduced ozone emissions for several decades without tighter federal standards” will file comments with the EPA opposing the new regulations.

At EMBARQ’s transportation conference, McCarthy referred to Congress’ favoritism towards road construction stating, “The easiest way to spend large hunks of money is to widen the road.” The air-quality chief quickly countered with “the worst way to spend large hunks of money is to widen a road.”

“This is an interesting trend,” Jeff Solsby, director of public affairs for ARTBA, told Roads & Bridges. “They are misunderstanding the role of political appointees. The role of political appointees is not to try and influence personal lifestyle choices, it is to enact or oppose policy and law. What [McCarthy said] does not address policy or law, it is trying to influence and change personal lifestyle such as the decision to drive a car.”

In another development, LaHood on Jan. 13 proposed that new funding guidelines for major transit projects be based on livability issues such as economic development opportunities and environmental benefits in addition to cost and time saved. The move would immediately rescind budget restrictions issued by the Bush Administration in 2005 that focused primarily on how much a project shortened commute times in comparison to its cost.

“This new approach will help us do a much better job of aligning our priorities and value with our transit investments,” said Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff. “No longer will we ignore the many benefits that accrue to our environment and our communities.”