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TR N EW S 288 SEPTEM BERâO 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 transportationâs 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- riamâWebsterâs defines a sustainable approach as using âa resource so that [it] is not depleted or permanently damaged.â1 This defini- tion suggests that sustainability can be determined by a projectâs 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 projectâs sustainability depends on the avail- ability, quality, and usage rate of resources over the projectâs 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 basisâthey 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