WASHINGTON — The announcement today of a new national initiative to tackle highway, freight, and aviation congestion by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta was praised by Environmental Defense, a national environmental advocacy group.  
 
“We support the Administration’s commitment to use market incentives and advanced traffic-management technology to help make America’s transportation network more efficient,” said Michael Replogle, transportation director for Environmental Defense.
 
“Experience in many cities shows that congestion pricing, toll-managed lanes and information technology can speed commutes, reduce congestion, reduce wasted fuel, and cut smog and soot emissions,” said Replogle. “As a next step, it is most important that these tools be actively deployed toward the goals of better transportation performance and reduced environmental impact – and not simply used to finance road expansion in ways that generate more congestion.”
 
Environmental Defense is a leader in promoting market incentives, such as congestion pricing, pay-as-you-drive insurance, and commuter choice benefits to protect the environment and public health. For more information, please visit our website: www.environmentaldefense.org/go/transportation/.
 
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Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 400,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems.
 
 

One of the world’s leading international nonprofit organizations, Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org) creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships. With more than 3 million members and offices in the United States, China, Mexico, Indonesia and the European Union, EDF’s scientists, economists, attorneys and policy experts are working in 28 countries to turn our solutions into action. Connect with us on Twitter @EnvDefenseFund