UNT Earth Day SummitUNT Earth Day SummitApril 22, 2009April 22, 2009

Sustainable Transportation Sustainable Transportation IndicatorsIndicators

UNT Earth Day SummitUNT Earth Day SummitApril 22, 2009April 22, 2009

Sustainable Transportation Sustainable Transportation IndicatorsIndicators

ByByJoe Zietsman, Ph.D., P.E.Joe Zietsman, Ph.D., P.E.

Texas Transportation InstituteTexas Transportation Institute

zietsman@tamu.eduzietsman@tamu.edu

TimelineTimelineTimelineTimeline

PastPast

PresentPresent

FutureFuture

Indication of Indication of ClarityClarity

Where Have We Been?Where Have We Been?Where Have We Been?Where Have We Been?

Where Are We Now?Where Are We Now?Where Are We Now?Where Are We Now?

Luxury vehiclesLuxury vehicles

High speed railHigh speed rail

Alternative fuel vehiclesAlternative fuel vehicles

Where Are We Going?Where Are We Going?Where Are We Going?Where Are We Going?

TrendsTrends

Personal devicesPersonal devices CocooningCocooning Self driving carsSelf driving cars Rocket planesRocket planes Floating citiesFloating cities LongevityLongevity

Highway 59 On a Good DayHighway 59 On a Good DayHighway 59 On a Good DayHighway 59 On a Good Day

Highway 59 On a Bad DayHighway 59 On a Bad DayHighway 59 On a Bad DayHighway 59 On a Bad Day

Defining Sustainable Defining Sustainable TransportationTransportation

Defining Sustainable Defining Sustainable TransportationTransportation

““Sustainable development is development that Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” meet their own needs”

Economic, Social, EnvironmentEconomic, Social, Environment

Sustainable Transportation - Expression of Sustainable Transportation - Expression of sustainable development within the sustainable development within the transportation sectortransportation sector

Sustainability DimensionsSustainability DimensionsSustainability DimensionsSustainability Dimensions

Sample DefinitionSample DefinitionSample DefinitionSample Definition

Used by TxDOTUsed by TxDOT

““Provision of safe, effective, and efficient access Provision of safe, effective, and efficient access and mobility into the future while considering and mobility into the future while considering economic, social, and environmental needs”economic, social, and environmental needs”

Key Thrusts for Sustainable Key Thrusts for Sustainable TransportationTransportation

Key Thrusts for Sustainable Key Thrusts for Sustainable TransportationTransportation

UnderstandQuantify

Apply

Sustainable Transportation

Performance IndicatorsPerformance IndicatorsPerformance IndicatorsPerformance Indicators

AcceptableAcceptable AccurateAccurate AffordableAffordable MeasurableMeasurable RelevantRelevant

SensitiveSensitive Show trendsShow trends TimelyTimely UnderstandableUnderstandable BenchmarkBenchmark

Simplify, Quantify, and Communicate Simplify, Quantify, and Communicate

Sustainability and TxDOT Sustainability and TxDOT GoalsGoals

Sustainability and TxDOT Sustainability and TxDOT GoalsGoals

DimensionDimension GoalsGoals

SocialSocial Reduce CongestionReduce Congestion

Enhance SafetyEnhance Safety

EconomicEconomic Expand Economic OpportunityExpand Economic Opportunity

Preserve Value of Transportation AssetsPreserve Value of Transportation Assets

EnvironmentalEnvironmental Improve Air QualityImprove Air Quality

Sustainability Objectives and Measures Sustainability Objectives and Measures Sustainability Objectives and Measures Sustainability Objectives and Measures

TxDOT GoalTxDOT Goal Sustainability-Related Objective Sustainability-Related Objective Performance Measure Performance Measure

Reduce congestionReduce congestionImprove mobility on highwaysImprove mobility on highways Travel time indexTravel time index

Improve reliability of highway travel Improve reliability of highway travel Buffer index Buffer index

Enhance safety Enhance safety

Reduce crash rates and crash riskReduce crash rates and crash riskAnnual severe crashes per Annual severe crashes per

milemile

Improve traffic incident detection and Improve traffic incident detection and

responseresponse

Percentage lane-miles under Percentage lane-miles under

traffic traffic

monitoring/surveillance monitoring/surveillance

Expand economic Expand economic

opportunityopportunity

Optimize land-use mix for development Optimize land-use mix for development

potential potential Land-use balance Land-use balance

Improve road-based freight movementImprove road-based freight movement Truck throughput efficiencyTruck throughput efficiency

Sustainability Objectives and Measures Sustainability Objectives and Measures Sustainability Objectives and Measures Sustainability Objectives and Measures

TxDOT Goal TxDOT Goal Sustainability-Related Objective Sustainability-Related Objective Performance Measure Performance Measure

Preserve the value of Preserve the value of

transportation assets transportation assets

Reduce cost and impact of highway Reduce cost and impact of highway

capacity expansioncapacity expansionCapacity addition within Capacity addition within

available right of wayavailable right of way

Leverage non-traditional funding Leverage non-traditional funding

sources for highwayssources for highwaysCost recovery from Cost recovery from

alternative sourcesalternative sources

Increase use of alternatives to single-Increase use of alternatives to single-

occupant automobile traveloccupant automobile travelProportion of non-single-Proportion of non-single-

occupant traveloccupant travel

Improve air quality Improve air quality

Reduce adverse human health impacts Reduce adverse human health impacts

and comply with ambient air quality and comply with ambient air quality

standards standards Air Quality Index Air Quality Index

Reduce greenhouse gas emissionsReduce greenhouse gas emissions Daily CODaily CO22 emissions emissions

Excel-Based CalculatorExcel-Based CalculatorExcel-Based CalculatorExcel-Based Calculator

Example Application: US -281Example Application: US -281Example Application: US -281Example Application: US -281 From I-410 (near From I-410 (near

downtown) to downtown) to Bexar/Comal County Bexar/Comal County lineline

Base Case: Conditions Base Case: Conditions as of 2005as of 2005

Future Case: Future Case: Projected for 2025Projected for 2025

Results: GraphsResults: GraphsResults: GraphsResults: Graphs

Results: GraphsResults: GraphsResults: GraphsResults: Graphs

ConclusionsConclusionsConclusionsConclusions

Sustainability is now more than a “Buzz Sustainability is now more than a “Buzz Word”Word”

Needs to be understood, quantified, and Needs to be understood, quantified, and appliedapplied

Methodology was developed for TxDOTMethodology was developed for TxDOT Easily adapted to other areas and applicationsEasily adapted to other areas and applications