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TR News September–October 2013: Environmental Sustainability in Transportation (2013)

Chapter: INTRODUCTION: Environmental Sustainability in Transportation: Improving the Quality of Life

« Previous: TR NEWS: NUMBER 288, SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2013
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Suggested Citation:"INTRODUCTION: Environmental Sustainability in Transportation: Improving the Quality of Life." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2013. TR News September–October 2013: Environmental Sustainability in Transportation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22466.
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TR N EW S 288 SEPTEM BER–O CTO BER 2013 3 The author is Air Quality Technical Service Team Leader, Resource Center, Federal Highway Administration, San Francisco, California, and Chair of the TRB Environment and Energy Section. Environmental sustainability is the theme of thisissue of TR News. Going back to the 1987 Brundtland Commission Report, which defined sus- tainability as meeting present needs without com- promising the ability of future generations to meet the same needs, transportation agencies have refined their organizational goals to foster sus- tainable strategies and approaches to problems. More specifically, the transportation community is addressing present and future problems from the perspective of the “triple bottom line”—environ- ment, economy, and social equity. Achieving the triple bottom line involves, for example, preserving and restoring environmental and ecological systems, ensuring community health and values, advancing economic develop- ment and prosperity, and fostering social equity among populations. As the Brundtland Commis- sion’s definition indicates, these tasks continue over generations. Addressing environmental issues in transporta- tion project development dates back to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), signed into law in January 1970. The NEPA sought to bal- ance environmental concerns with the social, eco- nomic, and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans. In practice, before making decisions, federal agencies must consider the effects of their actions on the quality of the human environment. The consideration of environmental impacts during the transportation project development process has evolved, as more sophisticated techni- cal approaches—some highlighted in this theme issue—have emerged, as well as practices that involve citizens and stakeholders to ensure that decisions reflect community values and quality of life. Context-sensitive solutions, for example, offer a collaborative, interdisciplinary, holistic approach to the development of transportation projects. This approach leads to effective transportation solutions yet preserves and enhances the commu- nity and natural environments. In this issue of TR News, articles and sidebars contributed by the TRB Transportation and Sus- tainability Committee focus on advances that transportation agencies have made in environ- mental sustainability across the transportation modes. Specific examples of how environmental sustainability is contributing to the quality of life for citizens can be found in the articles and side- bars developed through the following TRB com- mittees: Transportation and Air Quality, Ecology and Transportation, Transportation-Related Noise and Vibration, Historic and Archeological Preser- vation in Transportation, Waste Management and Resource Efficiency in Transportation, and Envi- ronmental Impacts of Aviation. INTRODUCTION Environmental Sustainability in Transportation Improving the Quality of Life R O B E R T M . O ’ L O U G H L I N Appreciation is expressed to TRB Senior Program Offi- cer Christine L. Gerencher for her work in developing this issue of TR News.

Next: Environmental Sustainability in Transportation: Evaluating Sustainable Development: A Quality-of-Life Focus for Transportation Decision Making »
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 TR News September–October 2013: Environmental Sustainability in Transportation
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This issue of the TR News focuses on environmental sustainability in transportation and how it can help improve the quality of life for individuals and communities. Articles highlight practice-ready research and cover such topics as integrating vegetation and green infrastructure into sustainable transportation planning; implementing the Eco-Logical approach in Nevada, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Washington, and Oregon; Virginia's improved construction specifications for stormwater pipe-lining materials; creating a multiagency sustainability framework in Colorado; effective noise barriers in North Carolina; Delaware's use of recycling materials and techniques; sustainability in airspace system planning; and more.

The September-October 2013 issue of TR News includes the following articles:

Environmental Sustainability in Transportation: Improving the Quality of Life

Evaluating Sustainable Development: A Quality-of-Life Focus for Transportation Decision Making

Integrating Vegetation and Green Infrastructure into Sustainable Transportation Planning

Eco-Logical in Practice: Implementing an Ecosystem-Based Approach, Streamlining Environmental Processes for Transportation Projects

Soundscapes: A Sustainability Approach to Transportation Noise Management

Sustainability in Airspace System Planning

Research Pays Off: Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement with Steel Slag Aggregate: Successful Use in Illinois Pavements

The TR News is TRB's bimonthly magazine featuring timely articles on innovative and state-of-the-art research and practice in all modes of transportation. It also includes brief news items of interest to the transportation community, research pays off articles profiles of transportation professionals, workshop and conference announcements, new book notices, and news of TRB activities. Submissions of manuscripts for possible publication are accepted at any time.

Copies of the TR News may be purchased individually or ordered on an annual subscription basis.

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