By 2030, global transportation-related emissions are expected to increase by 80 percent.

A Transportation Strategy for a Cleaner Environment

Several cities around the world are developing strategies to help reduce the negative impacts of transportation-related pollution. In an effort to curb emissions and alleviate traffic congestion, Singapore implemented an Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system in 1998.  The system, which charges vehicles, based on traffic conditions, for every trip into the central business district, resulted in a 15 percent reduction in traffic and reduced CO₂ emissions by 176,400 pounds. Singapore drivers maintain average travel speeds of 30-40 mph on highways, and 65 percent of all commuters now use public transportation.

In Bogota, Columbia, the “Pico y Placa” (Peak and License Plate) system restricts car usage during peak travel times by assigning certain license plate numbers to specific days of the week.  When the vehicle’s number corresponds to the day, its drivers are prohibited from driving during peak hours.  “Pico y Placa” resulted in a 40 percent reduction in personal vehicle traffic and lowered air pollution by 10 percent.  Additionally, the program boosted ridership on the Transmilenio (Bogota’s bus rapid transit system) by 10 percent. 

In 2000, New York City Transit launched the Clean Fuel Bus Program in an effort to become the cleanest bus fleet in the world.  The transit system, which provides more than 2 million trips every weekday, became the first in the country to switch all of the diesel buses in its fleet to ultra-low sulfur fuel. The nearly $1 billion investment allowed the transit agency to retrofit more than 3,200 old buses and add 1,300 new buses with diesel particulate filters. The filters reduce diesel particulate emissions from engines by as much as 95 percent.  As a result of New York’s commitment to cleaner air and protecting the environment, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency awarded the transit agency with the Clean Air Excellence Award in 2002.

In the Chicago region, transportation accounts for 21 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.  We’ve lost more than $7.3 billion to congestion and wasted more than $33 million every year in environmental damages.  Similar to the federal government’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gases by 17 percent by 2020, in the proposed Climate Change Bill (H.R. 2454), Chicago’s Climate Action Plan aggressively outlines strategies that will provide an 80 percent reduction in 1990 greenhouse gas levels by 2050.  An expansion of the region’s transit network, availability of transit services for commuters, and an upgrade of our transit fleet will be key components towards achieving our environmental goals.

Photo courtesy of J. McNamara

For Additional Information:

• Chicago Climate Action Plan: Improved Transportation Options – City of Chicago
• H.R. 2454 – American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009

 

NEWS

Local News

Rails, trails seen as future of transportation – Peoria Journal Star “Connecting the dots for local transportation means more than a straight line from U.S. DOT to IDOT.”

One-way ticket to higher fares - Metra raises price for some riders – Chicago Sun-Times “Metra riders who buy one-way tickets or weekend tickets or who wait to pay till they're on the train will pay more, under a budget approved Friday.”

Illiana gains traction in Illinois – Gary Post-Tribune “Legislative support for the proposed Illiana Expressway backed by Gov. Mitch Daniels may be gaining momentum in Illinois.”

Rail talks continue, but 'substantive' differences remain – State Journal Register “State and local leaders in Springfield are still meeting, but not reaching agreement, more than a month after Illinois asked for more than $4 billion in federal money to build a high-speed rail link between St. Louis and Chicago via the capital city.”

CTA board approves budget with no fare increases but service cuts – Chicago Tribune “As proposed last month, there would be less service on 110 of the CTA's 150 bus routes, and officials said riders could expect average waiting times to at least double.”

PACE punts on bus cuts – Chicago Sun-Times “The Pace board of directors unanimously approved a 2010 operating budget that promises to plug a $6.5 million deficit by cutting and eliminating routes but punted on which routes would be affected.”

State, RTA reach deal to avoid fare hikes for disabled riders – Chicago Sun-Times “As many as 40,000 disabled riders could avoid further fare increases after the state and the Regional Transportation Authority agreed on ways to find more money for paratransit services.”

 

World News

Key Senators Rally Behind 6-Month Highway Spending Extension – New York Times “A bipartisan group of key senators relented yesterday on their efforts to punt the next multiyear highway and transit bill into 2011 and instead called for a shorter, six-month extension.”

Low-emission locomotives may boost public health – Washington Post “A new crop of "ultra-low emission" short-haul locomotives could have significant public health benefits, according to rail industry officials and federal health experts.”

All’s fare in travel by bus – Boston Globe “Long-distance bus ridership in the United States is estimated to be up about 10 percent since last year.”

Stricter Transit Standards to Be Sought – New York Times “Citing an increase in the number of subway and light-rail crashes and resulting passenger injuries, the Obama administration will push for legislation that would allow the federal government to set and enforce safety standards on the nation’s transit systems.”

Netherlands to levy 'green' road tax by the kilometer – Breitbart “The Dutch government said Friday it wants to introduce a "green" road tax by the kilometre from 2012 aimed at cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 10 percent and halving congestion.”

U.S. trucking feeling pressure from greener trains – Reuters “U.S. truck operators are under pressure to improve energy efficiency as rail companies tout their green credentials and bid to win more freight haulage.”

SF Port's parking system pays dividends – San Francisco Examiner “Complaints about parking meters that charge different prices depending on the time of day are up, but so is revenue.”


Resources

• Greasing the Wheels: The Crossroads of Campaign Money & Transportation Policy – U.S. PIRG
• Comparative Evaluation of Rail and Truck Fuel Efficiency on Competitive Corridors -- FRA
  

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Contact Information
For comments, suggestions or submissions, please contact Emily Tapia Lopez, Associate, at etapia@metroplanning.org or 312-863-6047.