Jobs, mobility, economic prosperity—these are the kind of benefits that we usually attribute to transportation. But there’s a lot more to say about the good transportation does, not just for today, but far into the future. Good things for the environment, for historic preservation, and for the way we enjoy life.
In 2001, AASHTO created the AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence for the purpose of promoting environmental stewardship along with encouraging innovative ways to streamline the transportation delivery process. AASHTO recognizes that the American public demands projects that not only provide mobility, but also contribute to one’s overall quality of life. This report is a product of the Center for Environmental Excellence.
While considerable attention has been focused on environmental impacts that may result from transportation, little has been said about the multitude of environmental and societal benefits that do result from transportation. This report chronicles these important benefits with examples from across the country. It will likely surprise even the most experienced transportation and environment professionals with the size and scope of the positive impacts occurring in every state. Did you know that transportation is the largest investor in historic preservation of America’s rich heritage? Did you imagine that highways are considered the country’s top recycler? And did you know that in the past 10 years, $5 billion has been spent in 15,000 communities for transportation enhancement projects?
This file is available as a single PDF file or as separate downloads listed below: