DRAFT Goal: Environmental Responsibility
Minimize environmental impact created by the development and maintenance of the transportation system.
Emissions from transportation are currently growing faster than from any other source. For a healthy environment, we need to reduce vehicle emissions by using less fuel-intensive transportation and making system improvements.
Strategies
1. Continue regional air quality education efforts and promote ridesharing.
We encourage environmentally-friendly travel behavior that achieves better fuel efficiency and helps reduce the overall number of automobile trips.
2. Encourage land-use patterns of development that reduce travel distance.
Driving less uses less fuel and prevents harmful emissions.
3. Promote alternative modes of transportation.
To reduce the number of automobile trips, we need to focus on other transportation modes, such as biking, carpooling, rail, transit, and walking.
4. Encourage use of alternative energy and cleaner-burning fuels.
We should increase the use of alternative fuels, such as natural gas, biofuels, and hydrogen; use better technology to make vehicles more efficient; and expand infrastructure to support these alternatives.
5. Improve network efficiency.
The implementation of transportation strategies, such as idle reduction and signal timing, can help reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
Challenges to consider:
-
How do we achieve greater emission reductions with voluntary programs?
-
How do you measure the value of public outreach programs?
-
How do we encourage people to adopt more environmentally friendly transportation habits?
-
How do we promote greater coordination among multiple agencies?
