Why is it that the general public who use the federal and state highway transportation system are unwilling to invest in maintaining their current infrastructure system? Why is there so little political leadership to address this critical issue?  Read More

One of the many challenges facing federal state and local transportation agencies developing sustainable "green highway systems" is the lack of research and the subsequent adoption as inclusions in design/contractor specifications. If new sustainability based actions are to be realized on highways, new approaches and technologies need to be tested, proven and adopted by DOTs. A menu of sustainability based specifications needs to be provided to transportation designers, contractors and operation/maintenance professionals to improve implementation timing.  Read More

Many state, county and municipal departments of transportation (DOTs) are spending significant amounts of financial resources on stormwater management; especially for the Municipal Separate Stormwater Sewer System (MS4) Permit requirements for post-construction best management practices. Is this really an environmentally and financially sound approach to protect water quality? Read More

Summary of the 2011 Transportation Research Board (TRB) Waste Management & Resource Efficiency Committee Workshop; “Sustainability & Liability in Transportation”

The Sustainability & Liability in Transportation Workshop was held in Portland, Oregon (hosted by the Oregon Department of Transportation) from July 25-27, 2011. There were a total of 37 presentations given by national and international transportation professionals during the first two days of the workshop. The third day involved a boat tour of the Portland Harbor Superfund Site. The workshop was well attended by representatives from state departments of transportation, the Federal Highway Administration and transportation consulting firms. Read More

Sustainability based rating systems have become quite numerous over the past few years.  It is estimated that there are over 200 individual rating systems for civil engineering projects. I thought it would be informative to share a summary of some rating systems that are or are currently being planned to be used by transportation agencies. It is hard to determine if these rating systems will eventually be consolidated into just a few credible rating systems or programs. Many programs that have been developed are specific to an organization’s operations, environmental needs, local context and sustainability philosophy.  Read More

Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) is a very popular tool being used by FHWA and State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) in an attempt to improve the transportation planning process, while streamlining the NEPA process. The PEL concept is to integrate environmental, community and economic factors (sounds like sustainability elements) into the planning process.  Read More

Highway Right of Way (ROW) represents an unused resource to most DOTs. Instead of using ROW areas for traffic safety zones and utilities placements, DOTs could be using their ROWs more effectively to generate alternative energy. This action would help reduce the consumption of fossil fuel-generated electrical energy and greenhouse gas emissions, which is consistent with many state’s climate control action plans (such as Colorado). Why are ROWs not being used for alternative energy generation? Is it not technically feasible? Is it “red tape”? Is it a lack of management innovation and imagination? Is it capital? It is all the above? Read More

Transportation has major economic, environmental and social implications in its ability to provide for the public mobility, movement of goods and services and connectivity in our society. It is clear that many transportation practices are financially and environmentally unsustainable. Transportation is a major source of green house gas emissions that is associated with climate change, next to buildings and electrical power generation. Vehicle miles traveled is increasing three times faster than our population rate. Transportation projects are being planned, designed and constructed without looking at the full life cycle costs and manpower resources.  Read More

Departments of Transportations (DOTs) and some municipal transportation departments have sustainability policies, programs and projects that are consistent with their environmental philosophy, stewardship guidance and mission statements. They fund numerous types of research projects in an attempt to protect and enhance the traveling public (community), the local environment and economic-social resources.  Some DOTs and municipalities have programs or guidance that address sustainability based element integration into transportation planning, NEPA, design, operation and maintenance and demolition. Many sustainability based actions are consistent with state and local climate action plans and existing stewardship guidance. Read More

The majority of the traveling public who use road systems in the winter time really do not understand the complexity and environmental issues associated with winter road maintenance.  Many drivers expect to safely and expeditiously travel on road systems no matter how sever the snowstorm event or they expect to drive on bare pavement immediately after a storm.  Many of the maintenance departments do such a good job that some drivers do not have adequate vehicles and snow tires.  This driver expectation comes with an environmental and a highway operational price that is often hidden to the general public. One of the main sustainable transportation challenges associated with highway operations is the use of traction sand and excess application of chemical de-icing/anti-icing agents. Read More