This guidebook provides state departments of transportation (DOTs) and other transportation agencies with a practical and easy-to-use approach to identify and apply sustainability-related performance measures, some number of which may already be integrated into agency business practices, to produce a new lens through which decision makers can view their agency’s performance. It describes the underlying principles of sustainability as it relates to transportation, possible goals that can be used to address those principles, and performance measures that can be used to address those goals. Aspects of sustainability-related performance measures, including data sources and examples of use, are discussed. A reference compendium of performance measures has also been provided.
sustainability
New TRB guidebook for sustainability measures released
The Transportation Research Board, in partnership with the Texas Transportation Institute, has released the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 708: A Guidebook for Sustainability Performance Measurement for Transportation Agencies that will help transportation …
SSTI Review of PennDOT's Smart Transportation (SSTI, 2011)
Smart Transportation is Pennsylvania DOT’s integrated response to the crisis of crumbling infrastructure, limited revenues to address it, and the need to better align transportation with community revitalization and sound land use policy. PennDOT was the first state program reviewed in detail by SSTI, and remains one of our prime examples of a thoughtful DOT wrestling with the challenges of fiscal austerity, sustainability, and system preservation. The review was done at the request of PennDOT to assess the effectiveness of its Smart Transportation program in integrating land use and transportation in its decision-making and to identify areas of opportunity to advance the Smart Transportation agenda.
SSTI Review of Washington State DOT’s Sustainability Efforts (SSTI, 2011)
This review was performed at the request of Washington State DOT (WSDOT) to assess its sustainability efforts. SSTI convened a panel of experts that included people who have led transformative initiatives as heads of state DOTs. The panel combined practical and academic thinking. The expert panel reviewed background materials on WSDOT’s efforts and then interviewed stakeholders with varying perspectives on WSDOT’s work, including WSDOT staff; personnel from other state, federal, and local entities; and representatives from the not-for-profit sector. Intended as a peer review rather than an audit, the expert panel members brought their knowledge of transportation policy and trends to bear in assessing where WSDOT has succeeded and how its sustainability efforts could be strengthened.
Shining a light: New York City’s new zoning handbook
In releasing a new zoning handbook, New York City’s Planning Commissioner, Amanda Burden, extolled its virtues: “Zoning is the language of the city, it is a three-dimensional blueprint for what any area of the city …
Engineers form organization to develop tool for measuring infrastructure sustainability
Engineers are on the bandwagon for measuring sustainability in all its dimensions. As described in a press release from the American Society of Civil Engineers: “A new, independent non-profit organization tasked with developing and administering a sustainability …
Equitable VMT reduction is possible, WSDOT report finds
An effective statewide VMT reduction program would not necessarily harm the poor and other vulnerable groups, a new report from the Washington State Department of Transportation finds. The report counters objections that such programs would …
From the Community of Practice
The District of Columbia developed a broad-ranging Sustainability Plan to ensure that sustainability practices are incorporated into all agency activities. It includes stunning photos from our nation’s capitol and a PDF can be found here. …
Sustainable Highways Self-Evaluation Tool
An ambitious effort by the FHWA to create a web-based self-evaluation tool for measuring sustainability over the life cycle of a transportation project or program is available in Beta. The tool provides for self-evaluation from …