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

Chapter: Environmental Sustainability in Transportation: Fitting Livability into a Sustainability Framework: Making the Case

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Suggested Citation:"Environmental Sustainability in Transportation: Fitting Livability into a Sustainability Framework: Making the Case." 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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Page 11

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TR N EW S 288 SEPTEM BER–O CTO BER 2013 11 The movement toward sustainability, a critical advance for thetransportation community, has inspired a generation of pro-fessionals to think broadly about transportation’s societal benefits and costs. Although new approaches have promoted sus- tainability in the transportation sector, the lack of an organizing framework has allowed some sponsors to promote projects as sus- tainable on the basis of a few selective criteria and without full con- sideration of the triple bottom line of economy, environment, and equity. How can an objective case be made that livability projects, which focus on improving quality of life, fit into sustainability? Mer- riam–Webster’s defines a sustainable approach as using “a resource so that [it] is not depleted or permanently damaged.”1 This defini- tion suggests that sustainability can be determined by a project’s impact on resources. What are the underlying criteria for assessing a livability project? Viewed in the full context of all affected resources, the sustainable benefits of livability projects become clear. Under this notion, a project’s sustainability depends on the avail- ability, quality, and usage rate of resources over the project’s life cycle. Some resources, like energy, are obvious and are frequently employed in sustainability frameworks. Many livability projects, especially bicycle- and pedestrian-related improvements, need fewer materials and construction resources and require only the renewable resource of human locomotion. Other resources sometimes are ignored, and comprehensive approaches are rare. Consider the basic resources for a comprehensive sustainability framework: u Environmental resources, such as energy, air, water, land, and ecosystems. Sustainability frameworks frequently include air and water resources; pollution degrades these resources, and projects are assessed accordingly. Nevertheless, land is rarely recognized as a resource in sustainability, yet land is finite and can serve as a limit- ing factor in already dense development. Ecosystems also play a cru- cial role in modern society. Livability projects are likely to have less harmful effects on these environmental resources. u Human and financial resources.Other resources are less obvi- ous but no less important to sustainability. Human capital is an essential resource that can not only be maintained but optimized. Research shows that walking and biking promotes better health; healthier people have lower medical costs, are more alert, and live longer, which also makes them more productive. Time is a critical resource to most Americans; livability projects can optimize personal time budgets by providing a quick and efficient means to exercise and travel at the same time. In an era of tight budgets, financial resources must be considered; livability projects typically cost less than highway or transit capital improvements and maintenance. Although alternative approaches can be taken, a focus on resources allows for baseline and performance metrics for assessing sustainability objectively. Each project must be analyzed individu- ally, but livability projects can score well when examined on a com- prehensive basis—they can help conserve resources. An explicit framework for objective decision making can advance the goals and practice of sustainability. The author is a Fellow, ICF International, Washington, D.C. Increasing traffic congestion highlights the need to consider the environmental, equity, and economic effects of new projects. A mixed-use development in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Livability projects often are economical as well as environmentally friendly. PH O TO : W A LT ER PA R EN TE A U Fitting Livability into a Sustainability Framework Making the Case M I C H A E L J . S A V O N I S 1www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sustainable. PH O TO : D A N B U R D EN , PE D ES TR IA N A N D B IC Y C LE IN FO R M A TI O N C EN TE R

Next: Environmental Sustainability in Transportation: Paths, Roads, and Rails to Better and More Sustainable Living »
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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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