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

Living snow fence utilization is one of the most sustainable engineering actions DOTs can do along highway corridors. Living snow fences are designed plantings of trees and/or shrubs and native grasses along highways, roads and ditches that create a vegetative buffer that traps and controls blowing and drifting snow. These strategically placed fences have been shown to be cost effective in reducing highway maintenance associated with blowing and drifting snow conditions. Read More

No matter what it is called, climate change, climate chaos, global warming, or greenhouse effect, the dramatic warming of the earth represents a long term risk to State Departments of Transportation (DOTs). Many transportation professionals feel that this risk is non-existent or insignificant, since it is gradual and the effects are subtle and random. The two significant snow storms in Washington D.C. in the winter of 2009-2010 demonstrate the chaotic and episodic nature to our climate. These events had a significant impact on the momentum of climate change management in the US from a political and public point of view. Read More

Stormwater. Just the word “stormwater” can give construction project managers on transportation projects an ulcer and a bad attitude. The risk of non-compliances to federal, state and local environmental regulations or DOT agency directives and policies is real risk to the project manager whose main goal is finishing the construction project on time and within budget. Many times the project-level stormwater compliance management is seen by some DOT management as unnecessary and the construction and maintenance of best management practices (BMPs) as too costly. Some management do not understand the environmental regulations and say that stormwater programs such as the EPA-based Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) regulations do not apply to linear projects like transportation.     Read More

This month’s blog in the area of environmental-transportation sustainability is more technical in nature, as it relates to calculating a carbon footprint for the operation and maintenance of rest areas.  Rest areas are often overlooked by DOTs as a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. DOTs need to be more aware and proactive in evaluating and implementing cost effective sustainable operations of rest areas to protect the environment and to anticipate upcoming federal and state greenhouse gas/climate regulations. The following discusses a carbon calculation methodology that can be used for rest areas:  Read More

Instituting sustainability into transportation processes is an area of interest of many State DOTs, municipal transportation departments and the Federal Highway Administration.  Many State DOT engineering managers claim to endorse sustainability without really understanding the sustainability concept, how to successfully integrate it into their transportation processes or even fully endorsing the concept. To really develop and implement a cost effective transportation sustainability program, sustainable design elements must be identified early in the design scoping phase of the project (with management support) as opposed to later in the design process where sustainable design elements are simply considered an afterthought. Read More

There is an enormous untapped resource that is managed by all US DOTs that can make a difference in electrical generation and consumption; it is called right of way (ROW). This often unused land area along highway systems can contain several types of alternative energy systems that can be used to generate electrical power for highway interchange lighting, signal lighting, rest areas, and maintenance facilities. Generated power can also be sent to the “grid” as a potential source of additional utility power and revenue. DOTs need to take a proactive sustainable management approach by taking advantage of this ROW as a resource; to reduce reliance of fossil fuel generated electricity that will reduce highway operation and maintenance costs.  Read More

Rest areas have been elimination targets by State Department of Transportations (DOTs) over the past few years due to high maintenance and operation costs in a time of limited financial state resources. Rest areas are important to the safety of the traveling public and the interstate trucking industry. Many DOT rest areas are old and have unsustainable designs and operating procedures that are costly, promote the generation of greenhouse gases, and provide a poor public perception to the visiting public. Read More

Design-build transportation projects have dramatically increased in popularity over the past several years throughout the United States.  Significant cost savings have been realized on these fast tract design-build projects because of the shortened delivery schedules.  These cost savings have become an increasingly important issue to State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) experiencing increased construction material costs along with lower project construction budgets.  The concept of sustainability has also increased in popularity at a national, state and local level.  There is more demand by DOT’s and municipalities for the integration of environmental, public and economic sustainable components into their transportation projects.

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