Key Transportation Planning Principles--
Long Distance Travel and Freight 

Moving people and goods as efficiently as possible is important in creating a stronger economy, as well as a healthier environment. Airplanes and long-distance freight transporters consume a large amount of energy and create a large amount of pollution. It is important for planners to consider new methods of transportation that will help reduce pollution and consumption of resources, while simultaneously building a stronger economy.  

Doing so becomes particularly important as the cost of fuel increases.
DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) anticipates "a high likelihood" of additional price increases in spring of 2004, peaking at $1.83 per gallon for regular gasoline. EIA's "Short Term Energy Outlook," released in March 2004, projects that summer gasoline prices will average $1.74 per gallon, which will be a record in nominal (non-inflation-adjusted) prices and the highest inflation-adjusted prices since 1985.

Links 

SmartWay Transport Partnership is a collaborative voluntary program between EPA and the freight industry to increase energy efficiency and energy security while significantly reducing air pollution and greenhouse gases. The Partnership creates strong market-based incentives that challenge companies shipping products, and the truck and rail companies delivering these products, to improve the environmental performance of their freight operations.

Business for Social Responsibility Clean Cargo & Green Freight Working Groups are developing voluntary environmental management steps and guidelines to help evaluate the performance of fleets or carriers and spur broader movement toward a sustainable transporation future.

Freight Efficiency And Technology Initiative describes Canada's five-year initiative designed to reduce the growth of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from freight transportation, including a Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program.

Innovative Transportation Technologies provides photographs and technical information on alternative transportation technologies such as Automated People Mover's (APM's) and Automated Freight Systems (AFS's).

The U.S. Department of Transportation National Transportation Library provides online reports on freight intermodalism and rail energy and evironment. 

Sustainable Urban and Regional Freight Flows (SURFF) was a 3-year project financed by the European Union to research and develop telematic solutions that improve the accessibility of information systems within freight centres for actors involved and support the sustainability of freight flows in urban areas.

The Foundation for Intermodal Research and Education held a Roundtable to discuss innovative parternships that link the freight carrier community to the environmental community and local planners, then produced a brochure which outlines strategies for sustainable distribution.

The European Federation for Transport and Environment is Europe's principal environmental organization campaigning specifically on transport issues. Its members are NGOs in nearly every European country, all of whom promote a more environmentally sound approach to transport.

Articles 

Airport Pollution
Based on a study by the Natural Resources Defense Council, this article discusses how airports affect the environment, the most urgent airport pollution problem, the significance of airport pollution, and what can be done to reduce it. 

Challenges and Opportunities for an ITS/Intermodal Freight Program
A final report on the challenges and opportunities for using Intelligent Transportation System technology in conjunction with Intermodal Freight. Prepared for the U.S. Department of Transportation. Available in PDF. 

Chicago Regional Environmental and Tranportation Efficiency Project
Profiles a public/private partnership created to improve passenger rail service, reduce motorist delay, ease traffic congestion, increase safety and provide economic, environmental and energy benefits for the Chicago region.

Freight Transport
An article in Sustainable Transportation Monitor explores the energy use and pollution associated with different forms of freight movement. (PDF)

Freight Transport Management
This section of the TDM Encyclopedia from the Victoria Transport Policy Insitute includes various strategies of increasing the efficiency of freight and commercial transport.

Trucking Company Offers Eco-Friendly Business Model
Allied Port Transporters hopes to spur a major shift in how container cargo is trucked out of the San Pedro port complex, using clean diesel trucks and operating during off-peak hours, which will both improve efficiency and help reduce air pollution.

Last updated: August 16, 2004

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