But an energy expert says hydrogen as a fuel isn't commercially viable.
There's concern the proposal will hurt electric vehicle uptake.
"We need to make sure we're getting the balance right between safety and getting traffic moving," he said.
If implemented, decision-makers would not be required to consider emissions when making transport investment decisions.
Simon Bridges has been announced as the new board chairman of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).
It's the latest track work in a series that has closed sections of Auckland's railway for months at a time.
The move comes as the NZ Transport Agency prepares to take over all mobile cameras.
Some are waiting months to get licenses, while others resort to sitting tests out of town.
The Ministry of Transport says the expenditure is in line with the costs of designing other documents.