 Print
Sustainability
Recent Developments
|
|
This section describes recent developments related to transportation-related sustainability. If you would like to suggest a recent development on this topic, please submit a short description to AASHTO (including any pertinent links) on the Share Info with AASHTO form.
|
|
|
|
«View Recent Developments Archive
|
| |
TRB Releases Papers from Winter Maintenance, Surface Transportation Weather Conference |
The Transportation Research Board has published a collection of papers presented at the International Conference on Winter Maintenance and Surface Transportation Weather held April 30-May 3, 2012, in Iowa. The papers address issues including environmental stewardship and sustainability, decision support systems, climate trends, winter maintenance policy and management, and others. For more information, link to the Transportation Research Circular E-C162: Winter Maintenance and Surface Transportation Weather. (5-7-12) [back to top] |
FHWA Newsletter Highlights Effective Practices in Transportation Livability |
The Federal Highway Administration has launched a quarterly newsletter as part of its Livability Initiative to provide transportation professionals with examples of effective practices and resources to improve the relationship between transportation and communities. The first issue describes effective practices to address civil rights concerns in transportation planning employed as part of the Cypress Freeway Replacement Project in Oakland, Calif. The newsletter also highlights activities in the Pacific Northwest region as part of the federal interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities and describes strategies for community engagement used by the Sustainable Eastern Connecticut consortium. For more information, link to FHWA’s Fostering Livable Communities Newsletter, Vol. 1, Issue. 1. (4-23-12) [back to top] |
FTA Marks Earth Day with Website Showcasing 'Green' Transportation Initiatives |
The Federal Transit Administration has launched a website in observance of Earth Day that highlights the environmental benefits of transit and the administration’s initiatives to support sustainable public transit alternatives. Features of the website include a calculator that shows how users can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by riding transit. The website also provides a map with links to sustainable transit projects across the country and information on agency initiatives such as investments in clean-fuel technologies. For more information, link to the FTA and Earth Day website. (4-19-12) [back to top] |
FHWA Primer Highlights Role of Systems Management and Operations in Livability |
A primer that details the role of transportation systems maintenance and operations in supporting livable and sustainable communities has been issued by the Federal Highway Administration. The primer looks at multimodal transportation strategies to maximize the efficiency, safety, and utility of transportation infrastructure. It covers potential roles and ways to operate transportation systems maintenance and operations in support of livability and sustainability. It also provides examples, such as a before-and-after simulation of implementing a multimodal corridor strategy. For more information, link to The Role of Transportation Systems Management & Operations in Supporting Livability and Sustainability. (4-18-12) [back to top] |
Montana DOT Study Defines Livability Aspects Related to Transportation |
The Montana Department of Transportation has released a study that seeks to formally define what ‘livability’ means for the state of Montana as it relates to transportation. The research included an analysis of existing literature, demographic factors, interviews with officials from Montana and other states, public comments on Montana’s statewide transportation plan, and surveys with citizens and stakeholders. The study presents the following definition of livability: “Provide a transportation system that emphasizes a safe, maintained road network; allows for multimodal transportation opportunities; and considers local community values.” The study also outlines an expanded definition of livability consisting of transportation aspects identified as a priority by Montana and its residents and describes a series of demographic factors that are unique the state. For more information, link to Livability for Montana Transportation. (4-16-12) [back to top] |
ITDP Issues Report on Global Challenges of Sustainable Transportation Policy |
The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy has issued a report discussing current trends in global sustainable transportation policy. The report discusses the state of the practice internationally and various options that can improve transportation policy for the coming decades. The report says that the transportation challenges of this century are global in scope and require multinational solutions. The report is a chapter of the Worldwatch Institute’s State of the World 2012: Moving Toward Sustainable Prosperity. For more information, link to Chapter 4: Moving Toward Sustainable Transport. (4-13-12) [back to top] |
EPA Enters Partnership with Philadelphia to Promote Green Infrastructure |
The Environmental Protection Agency has announced the signing of a partnership agreement with the City of Philadelphia to facilitate the city’s Green City, Clean Water plan to promote green infrastructure. The partnership represents a $2 billion investment in transforming the city’s impervious surfaces into green stormwater systems that will enhance the cityscape and provide water quality improvements. In addition to the funding, EPA will be providing technical support. For more information, link to Philadelphia’s Green City, Clean Water plan. (4-10-12) [back to top] |
New Tools for Modeling Emissions of Transport Projects Now Available |
The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy has announced the availability of a suite of free, spreadsheet-based modeling tools can be used to evaluate the greenhouse gas emissions and other impacts of different types of transportation projects. The Transport Emissions Evaluation Models for Projects (TEEMP) was initially developed for evaluating emissions impacts of the Asian Development Bank’s transport projects, but has been modified to serve as a standard method to evaluate global environmental facility projects. The updated tools also incorporate a new standard for bus rapid transit projects and can be applied for evaluating the impacts of various transport measures at a project level. For more information, link to the news release. (4-10-12) [back to top] |
New Infrastructure Project Sustainability Rating System Launched |
The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure and the Harvard University Graduate School of Design have announced the launch of the Envision Sustainable Infrastructure Rating System to help policymakers, investors, and project owners evaluate the sustainability of civil infrastructure projects. The system rates projects based on their environmental, economic, and community impacts and can evaluate all sizes of civil infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges, water treatment facilities, airports, refineries, buildings, and electricity grids. The rating system looks at the costs and benefits over the entire lifecycle of an infrastructure project, including design and construction, operations and maintenance, and decommissioning. For more information, link to Envision Sustainable Infrastructure Rating System website. (4-3-12) [back to top] |
Pacific Coast Leaders Announce Plan to Accelerate Clean Energy, Transportation |
Leaders from California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, Canada, have announced an action plan to accelerate the development of a clean energy economy along the West Coast, including the development of clean transportation. These jurisdictions along with Alaska are members of the Pacific Coast Collaborative, announced in 2008 to take cooperative action on regional issues including climate change and transportation. The 2012 West Coast Action Plan on Jobs describes a series of regional actions for job creation, including accelerated deployment of the “green highway” from British Columbia to Baja, Calif. and fleet purchases of advanced technology vehicles. The group also released a West Coast Clean Economy Report describing clean energy market opportunities, including electric and alternative fueled vehicles and enhanced public transit infrastructure. For more information, link to the news release. (3-13-12) [back to top] |
Washington State DOT Publishes Highlights of Recent Climate Vulnerability Assessment |
The Washington State Department of Transportation has published a printable folio on its recently completed statewide assessment of the climate change vulnerability of state-owned and -operated transportation infrastructure. The WSDOT assessment was one of five FHWA pilot projects to assess a climate risk assessment model. WSDOT conducted a series of workshops with field staff statewide leading to identification and ranking of vulnerable infrastructure including state highway segments, ferry terminals, rail lines, and aviation facilities. WSDOT is now compiling the results in GIS layers and has updated its guidance for project-level environmental review to include use of the vulnerability assessment. For more information, link to the WSDOT climate adaption folio. (3-9-12) [back to top] |
International Road Federation Bulletin Focuses on Environment, Climate Change |
The International Road Federation has published the March 2012 edition of its IRF Bulletin newsletter, which is the second in a two-volume series on issues related to the environment and climate change. Volume 1, published in December 2011, covered topics including policy and regulatory measures, assessing carbon dioxide emissions, technology advancements, and adapting to climate change. The latest issue addresses the topics of sustainability and carbon assessment, life cycle analysis, technology, and adapting to climate change. For more information, link to the IRF Bulletin March 2012 – Environment & Climate Change – Vol. 2. (3-9-12) [back to top] |
Colorado DOT Study of Rest Area Sustainability Featured in FHWA Newsletter |
A 2011 study by the Colorado Department of Transportation on environmental sustainability at its highway rest areas is featured in the March 2012 issue of FHWA’s Successes in Stewardship newsletter. The study involved the development of a sustainable criteria checklist and site visits to six pilot rest areas to assess water, electricity, and fuel consumption and carbon footprint. The study identified best practices to reduce energy consumption and environmental impacts at rest areas and developed 11 general recommendations for improving sustainability. The recommendations include providing truck electrification facilities, efficient lighting, natural shading, and efficient onsite wastewater treatment. For more information, link to Colorado DOT Analyzes Rest Area Sustainability. (3-1-12) [back to top] |
EPA Announces Recipients of 2012 Smart Growth Technical Assistance |
The Environmental Protection Agency’s has announced the 2012 recipients of funding for sustainable development under two agency programs. EPA selected 56 communities in 26 states to receive technical assistance under the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program, which will host one-day workshops in each community on policies and procedures for improving the local economy, environment, and quality of life. EPA also announced the selection of five projects to receive direct technical assistance under the Smart Growth Implementation Assistance program. USDOT and HUD will partner with EPA on delivery of these projects as part of the federal interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities. For more information, link to the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities 2012 selected communities and the SGIA program 2012 selected communities. (3-1-12) [back to top] |
First 'Greenroads' Certification Announced for Project in Washington State |
The Meador Kansas Ellis Trail Project in Bellingham, Wash., has become the first project to achieve Greenroads certification. The Greenroads Foundation, an independent, third party certification organization, announced that the project has achieved “silver” level certification, which represents a significantly higher level of sustainability than the typical road project. For more information on the project and certification, link to the Greenroads announcement. (2-29-12) [back to top] |
Materials Available from Partnership for Sustainable Communities Webinar |
Smart Growth America has posted to its website materials from a Feb. 16 briefing on the federal interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities. The webinar, which was hosted by SGA’s Sustainable Communities Network, featured updates by senior officials from the USDOT, HUD, and EPA on 2012 grants and programs; where the partnership stands in the administration’s fiscal year 2013 budget; and the agencies’ plans for the coming year. For more information, link to the Smart Growth America website. (2-21-12) [back to top] |
FHWA Posts Details on 2011 Exemplary Human Environment Initiative Recipients |
The Federal Highway Administration has posted to its website information on the recipients of the 2011 Exemplary Human Environmental Initiatives awards, originally announced in June 2011. The program seeks to recognize outstanding examples of transportation projects that create or improve conditions for human activities while protecting the natural environment. For more information about the 2011 award recipients, link to FHWA’s Exemplary Human Environment Initiatives webpage. (2-13-12) [back to top] |
FHWA Posts Fact Sheets on Transportation and Livability |
The Federal Highway Administration has published a series of fact sheets on the consideration of livability during the transportation decisionmaking process. The fact sheets, which are available on the FHWA Livability Initiative website, address topics including the environment, land use, livability benefits for communities, and the role of state DOTs in advancing livability. For more information, link to the FHWA Livability Fact Sheets. (2-1-12) [back to top] |
TRB Releases Transportation Record 'Sustainability and Livability' Issue |
The Transportation Research Board has published a compilation of 15 research papers on sustainable transportation-related topics in Volume No. 2242 of its Transportation Research Record journal. Topics covered include evaluation of sustainable transportation, sustainability assessments by transportation agencies, quantifying the economic domain of transportation sustainability, sustainable transportation planning, measuring the performance of livability programs, and environmental impacts in the transport sector. For more information, link to TRR Journal 2242: Sustainability and Livability: Economic, Environmental, and Social Impacts. (1-28-12) [back to top] |
2012 Sustainable Transport Award Winners Announced |
The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy announced the selection of San Francisco, California, and Medellin, Columbia, as the winners of the 2012 Sustainable Transport Award at the Transportation Research Board’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. The winners were selected for their work to increase mobility for residents, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from transportation, improve safety, and increase access for cyclists and pedestrians. The cities were also recognized for their leadership in using social media and online technology. For more information, link to the Sustainable Transport Award website. (1-24-12) [back to top] |
Research Digest Outlines Sustainable Pavement Maintenance Practices |
Current practices in sustainable pavement maintenance and preservation by transportation agencies are outlined in a report issued under the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP). The synthesis report identifies sustainability impact areas important to pavement preservation and maintenance: virgin material usage, alternative material usage, a program for pavement in-service monitoring and management, noise, air quality/emissions, water quality, and energy usage. For more information, link to Research Results Digest 365: Sustainable Pavement Maintenance Practices. (1-19-12) [back to top] |
2012 University Transportation Center Conference to Focus on Sustainable Energy |
The Transportation Research Board is sponsoring the 2012 University Transportation Center (UTC) Spotlight Conference on Sustainable Energy and Transportation on Nov. 8-9, 2012, in Washington, D.C. The conference will focus on current research on sustainable energy and transportation being conducted by UTCs and others and will identify existing knowledge gaps and promising developments for future research. For more information, link to the conference website. (1-18-12) [back to top] |
Sustainable Concrete Pavement Guide Released |
The National Concrete Pavement Technology Center at Iowa State University has published a guide on pavement sustainability concepts and recommended practices for enhancing the sustainability of concrete pavements. The document features technical information and best practices related to concrete pavement design, materials, construction, use, renewal, and recycling. The guide also covers issues related to pavement sustainability in the urban environment and the evaluation of pavement sustainability. For more information, link to Sustainable Concrete Pavements: A Manual of Practice. (1-6-12) [back to top] |
|
 - items posted in the last 7 days
|
