Environmental Group Ranks Colorado 7th in Progress Toward Aligning Transporation Policy with Climate Goals

A report by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a national environmental group, found that Colorado ranks seventh in the nation for the state’s progress toward aligning transportation policy with state and national climate goals.

By shifting funding away from ineffective polluting highway expansions to cleaner and more high-quality transportation, Colorado’s recent Greenhouse Gas Pollution Standard has significantly helped Colorado rise to the top 10 among states, according to the report. 

Other important improvements that boosted Colorado’s ranking in the report include the successful progress of “Level 2” and electric vehicle charging stations across the state, implementing policies to drive down traffic pollution, and prioritizing maintenance and repairs on infrastructure.

Colorado got a total score of 56.9 points out of a total of 100 possible points and was the only state to receive full marks for clean and equitable procurement practices.

Colorado’s neighboring states did not fare as well. The highest-ranked neighboring state named in the report was New Mexico, which ranked 15th and got a total of 43.4 points out of a possible 100. 

Colorado’s ranking is likely to rise, due to policies implemented since the February 2023 cutoff period for the report’s analysis. Recently established policies include the Advanced Clean Trucks Rule in April, the adoption of the Advanced Clean Cars II policy in October, and the implementation of the low-income low-emissions Vehicle Exchange Program that began earlier in 2023. 

Colorado still ranks quite low compared to other states in certain categories, particularly with public transportation, according to the report. 

Receiving just 1.2 out of 10 possible points, Colorado is tied for the lowest number of points in this category among the top 10 states, and even neighboring New Mexico scores higher. Recent developments and initiatives implemented by the Colorado Department of Transportation may change this, with the Bus Rapid Transit Program being launched this month for the Denver region.