Reports:
Environmental Impact of Transportation
The Role of Driving in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Oil Consumption
Released by World Resources Institute
July 2011
Windfall for All:
How Connected, Convenient Neighborhoods Can Protect Our Climate and Safeguard California's Economy
Released by TransForm
2009
Defenders
of Wildlife and STPP: Second Nature--Improving Transportation Without
Putting Nature Second
Released by Defenders of Wildlife and STPP
April 2003
Released on Earth Day 2003, suggests that
the nation’s natural environment and wildlife habitats are at risk
from both development patterns and the roads that make the development
possible. The study assesses ways to lessen and avoid impacts and
applauds projects in several states - including Montana, Florida
and California – that reduce transportation’s negative impacts on
natural habitats. The report argues that transportation plays a
key role in the loss of species, damage to ecosystems, loss of wildlife
habitat and compromised water quality. Land consumption, habitat
fragmentation, and replacement of natural cover with impervious
surfaces are to blame for transportation’s role in this destructive
cycle. The report concludes with related environmental policy recommendations
for inclusion in the reauthorization of the surface transportation
law.
Stakeholders’ Views on Time to Conduct Environmental Reviews of Highway Project
Released by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO)
May 2003
The report was requested by
House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Young.
The authors of the report relied on information provided by various
interest groups including state DOTs, natural resource agencies,
environmental organizations and highway advocates. The GAO reported
on the activities involved in the environmental reviews of federally
funded highway projects, the stakeholders' views on the various
aspects of the reviews, including the time added to gain environmental
approval. Environmental stakeholders cite as the main cause of environmental
review delay the failure of the state DOTs' to consider environmental
impacts early in the process and to involve affected parties early
in the process. Environmental impact assessments are conducted on
only 3 percent of highway projects. Transportation stakeholders
blame delays on insufficient staff resources and burdensome statutory
criteria.
Travel and Environmental Implications of School Siting
Released by the Environmental Protection Agency
October 2003
This report "is the first study to empirically examine the
relationship between school locations, the built environment around
schools, how kids get to school, and the impact on air emissions
of those travel choices. Over the next few decades, communities
making decisions about the construction and renovation of thousands
of schools will be challenged to meet multiple goals -- educational,
fiscal, and environmental."
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