Moving Cooler

“The recently released Moving Cooler study, funded by a number of diverse stakeholders, also recognizes the substantial environmental and energy benefits resulting from livable communities. It found that compact development, complemented with pricing strategies and support for alternative transportation modes, could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 15 percent by 2050. These studies suggest that promoting mixed-use, connected communities has the potential to reduce vehicle miles traveled, and thereby significantly contribute to U.S. carbon dioxide emissions reductions.”

“Another way to achieve our clean energy and climate goals is through more effective transportation planning. We would like to work with Congress to support robust transportation planning techniques to target investments to projects that reduce GHG emissions and fuel consumption. One strategy for reducing transportation-related GHG emissions is by integrating transportation planning with housing, land use and water infrastructure planning. As new or additional development is contemplated, considering where people will be located, where they will need to go, and how they should be able to get there, can promote better efficiencies, system performance and lower carbon emissions.”

“DOT’s experience and statutory jurisdiction to implement transportation planning regulations lends itself well to accomplish the transportation planning goals contemplated in the bill. A key mechanism by which DOT can have an impact on climate change is through our role in financing infrastructure and promoting effective transportation planning across the United States, including highways, airports, transit systems, and multi-modal facilities. We have a unique opportunity to shape the transportation infrastructure of the future to promote livability and to reduce the environmental impact of transportation.”

CS Role

In July 2009, Cambridge Systematics, along with our study partners, announced the publication of Moving Cooler: Transportation Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, a groundbreaking report that evaluates the effectiveness of a range of transportation activity and efficeincy strategies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  Moving Cooler provides objective information that can help shape effective, integrated approaches for reducing GHG emissions nationally, regionally, and locally, while meeting broader transportation objectives as well.

Gulf Coast Study

“DOT’s Center for Climate Change and Environmental Forecasting sets priorities for climate change policy analysis and research. One example of the Center’s work is The Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Transportation Systems and Infrastructure. This case study of the Gulf Coast was designed to understand and address the possible effects of climate change on transportation infrastructure and aid transportation decision makers in determining how to account for potential impacts in the transportation planning process. Phase I of the study was completed in 2008 and studied how changes in climate over the next 50 to 100 years could affect transportation systems in the U.S. central Gulf Coast region. This important work has already gained considerable interest within the transportation community about planning for transportation investments.”

CS Role

Climate change and variability can have serious implications for transportation systems: from hurricanes and severe weather events, to longer-term changes in sea levels, temperature, and hydrology. CS led the U.S. DOT study conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program: The Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Transportation Systems and Infrastructure: Gulf Coast Study Phase I (March 2008). Working with climate scientists, we assessed the implications of a range of IPCC emissions scenarios on regional climate and sea levels, and the resulting risks to infrastructure and services. CS has developed methods to assess near and longer-term risks to transportation, and to integrate climate scenarios into transportation planning, design, and operations.

Report to Congress

“The Center is overseeing preparation of a report to Congress on the impact of the Nation’s transportation system on climate change, and solutions to mitigate climate change by reducing GHG emissions from the transportation sector. The report, mandated by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, will identify national policy approaches, evaluate pros and cons, and estimate magnitudes of emission reductions. This research will allow DOT to evaluate the implications of various approaches on other transportation goals. The report results will compare strategic options to reduce transportation emissions and will inform future research and policy development.”

CS Role

For the U.S. DOT, Cambridge Systematics prepared the Report to Congress on Transportation's Impact on Climate Change and Solutions. The Report assessed the effect of the nation’s transportation system on climate change and the potential fuel savings and air pollution reductions of transportation climate change mitigation strategies.  The study provides background on climate change and GHG emissions, inventories and projections of transportation GHG emissions, and a detailed examination of potential ways to reduce these emissions. The study covers all transportation sectors and modes, including on-road passenger and freight, rail, marine, and aviation.