Resources and Publications
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DOT
- Reference Sourcebook for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Transportation Sources. (PDF 1.5 MB) This document describes various transportation-related greenhouse gas mitigation strategies, estimates the potential range of GHG reductions, estimates costs, identifies barriers to implementation, identifies example projects, and describes any associated co-benefits or disadvantages. The report was developed for FHWA by the Rand Corporation, and it is meant to complement FHWA's Energy and Emissions Reduction Policy Analysis Tool.
- A Framework for Considering Climate Change in Transportation and Land Use Scenario Planning: Lessons Learned from an Interagency Pilot Project on Cape Cod (July 2011) - FHWA and the Volpe Center have developed a guidebook that discusses the steps taken during the pilot project and presents lessons learned and recommendations that will guide other areas in pursuing a similar multi-agency approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and plan for climate change impacts through integrated transportation and land use scenario planning. (PDF 2.2 MB)
- GHG Mitigation Policy Analysis Tool and Reference Sourcebook (January 2012) - The Energy and Emissions Reduction Policy Analysis Tool (EERPAT) was developed by FHWA for use by State DOTs to model a large number of inputs and policy scenarios to support strategic transportation and visioning including GHG emissions reduction alternatives. The tool can be used to assist State DOTs in analyzing GHG reduction scenarios and alternatives for use in the transportation planning process, climate action plans, scenario planning exercises, and meeting state GHG reduction targets and goals. A Mitigation Reference Sourcebook has also been developed to accompany the tool, which describes the strategies, estimates the potential range of GHG reductions, estimates costs, identifies barriers to implementation, identifies example projects, and describes any associated co-benefits or disadvantages.
- Carbon Sequestration Pilot Program Results (HTML) or (PDF - 424Kb) (May 2010).FHWA established the Carbon Sequestration Pilot Program (CSPP) in 2008 to assess whether a roadside carbon sequestration effort through modified maintenance and management practices is appropriate and feasible for state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) when balanced against ecological and economic uncertainties. In addition to this report, FHWA has developed a Highway Carbon Sequestration Estimator to help DOTs assess the return on investment for various carbon sequestration scenarios. The decision-support tool allows transportation officials to make estimates based on state-specific considerations. The Estimator tool may be acquired by contacting Carson.Poe@dot.gov
- Transportation's Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions (April 2010) was mandated by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The report analyzes a full range of strategies available to reduce transportation's greenhouse gas emissions.
- Educating the Public on Climate Change Issues: DOT and MPO Best Practices or PDF - 129Kb. (June 15, 2010) This document summarizes outreach activities and public education initiatives used around the country by State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to educate the public on transportation-related climate change issues.
- Climate Change - Model Language in Transportation Plans. (May 2010) This document provides excerpts from various MPOs and DOT's transportation plans that illustrate how climate change considerations have been integrated into the documents. Agencies that are looking for ideas about how to incorporate climate change into their transportation plans could find the model language very useful. (PDF 89 KB)
- Review and Assessment of State Climate Action Plans. (November 2009) This project reviewed and analyzed climate action plans in all 50 states. The information gather is provided in a separate Excel workbook available in HTML and MS Excel.
- Carbon Dioxide, Climate Change, and the Boston Region MPO: A Discussion Paper (May 2008). This paper identifies the current and potential climate change-related impacts to the Boston, MA region, details current actions undertaken by the Boston Region MPO to address climate change issues, and discusses possible future actions for the Boston Region MPO to reduce GHG emissions
- Integrating Climate Change into the Transportation Planning Process (July 2008). This study reports on opportunities for States and MPOs to incorporate climate change considerations into long-range transportation planning (LRTP) processes, including adaptation and mitigation practices. The study also describes examples of current state and MPO practices that link climate change and the LRTP process.
- Guidance: Planning Program Funds to Support Integration of Transportation, Land Use, and Climate Change (November 2008). Current FHWA/FTA planning requirements (23 U.S.C. 134 and 135, 49 U.S.C. 5303 and 5304) call for MPOs and State DOTs to consider land use and economic development impacts in their transportation planning processes. The FHWA/FTA issued guidance to clarify the eligibility and criteria for use of FHWA/FTA metropolitan and statewide planning program funds to support Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and State Planning and Research (SPR) work activities addressing the integration of transportation, land use, and climate change.
- Assessing the Effects of Freight Movement on Air Quality at the National and Regional Level (April 2005). This report evaluates the impacts of freight transportation on national and regional air quality and discusses technological and operational strategies that can mitigate freight emissions. The report concludes with recommendations for further research to explore linkages between freight transportation and air quality.
- Assessing State Long Range Transportation Planning Initiatives in the Northeast for Climate and Energy Benefits (December 2005) This study identifies state LRTP practices for climate protection and energy efficiency outcomes.
- Greenhouse Gas Control Strategies: A Review of "Before-and After" Studies (November 1999). This paper summarizes the results of a literature search on U.S. efforts to reduce GHG emissions from on-highway vehicles and public transit modes.
- Assessment of GHG Models for the Surface Transportation Sector (November 1999). This paper is a survey of several models used in the U.S. to estimate the impact of GHG control strategies in the surface transport sector.
Other
- AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence Primer on Transportation and Climate Change (April 2008) The primer provides some scientific background on climate change, introduces climate change policy issues, and discusses areas of further research. It details some GHG emission trends that relate to the road transportation sector and discusses technological transportation improvements that could help reduce GHG emissions.
- TRB Electronic Circular E-C164: Climate Change and Transportation: Summary of Key Information highlights the key findings of a variety of studies on the subject of climate change and its ramifications for the transportation sector conducted by the National Research Council, the principal operating agency of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering; TRB; and other organizations. (July 2012)
- The National Research Council has released a new booklet and video designed to help the public gain a better understanding of what is known about climate change. The new resources are based on a number of independent reports from the National Research Council that represent the consensus of experts who have reviewed hundreds of studies describing many years of accumulating evidence.
The 36 page booklet, entitled Climate Change: Evidence, Impacts, and Choices answers commonly asked questions about the science of climate change in three parts. The booklet lays out the evidence of climate change being observed around the world, summarizes projections of future climate changes and impacts expected in this century and beyond, and examines how science can help inform choices about managing and reducing the risks posed by climate change. (July 2012)
The video, Climate Change: Lines of Evidence, follows Part 1 of the booklet. It explains the lines of evidence that have built the current scientific consensus about climate change and its causes.
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