Energy consumption, mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, and dealing with extreme weather are all impacting the transportation sector. Transportation agencies are also working to create more resilient systems by conducting vulnerability assessments and incorporating climate risk throughout the process.
Transportation and Environmental Justice often intertwine, and there are resources available to ensure that projects and programs avoid adversely affecting minority and low-income populations and communities.
Transportation agencies have a wide range of approaches for effective vegetation management, promotion of native plants and wildflowers, and control of invasive species in the nation’s transportation corridors.
Transportation agencies share their experiences related to emerging issues, research and data needs, and innovative stormwater quality compliance solutions.
Transportation agencies are working to implement a “triple bottom line” approach to sustainability by evaluating performance based on of economic, social, and environmental factors.
Addressing noise impacts from highways is a key challenge for transportation agencies. This area covers topics such as noise compatible planning, source control, and highway project noise mitigation.
Transportation activities, from project planning and development through operations and maintenance, are affected by a variety of requirements and initiatives related to waste management and disposal.
Transportation agencies always consider potential impacts of projects on water resources, as well as approaches to minimize impacts of runoff.
In the planning process, transportation agencies make efforts to evaluate project impacts endangered and threatened animal and plant species and to consider resource conservation plans and inventories.