Lowering emissions from transportation now more important than ever

For almost 40 years U.S. transportation held the No. 2 spot. In 2016, this sector moved to the top in emissions output, outstripping energy for the first time since 1978.

There are two reasons and two reasons only for the reversal: 1) transportation emissions increased; and 2) energy emissions fell. It’s that simple.

The good news is that overall U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions decreased. What is less clear is whether in America, further reductions in GHGs will be forthcoming under the current administration in Washington.

On the other hand, what is clear is, as the amount of driving increases, without greater efficiencies both incorporated into the automotive realm in terms of engine performance for internal-combustion-engine-equipped motor vehicles and in greater fuel economies being realized, all other things being equal, emissions from transportation will continue their upward ascent. In 2016, the aggregate and per-capita vehicle miles traveled rose to 3.2 trillion and close to 10,000 VMT, respectively. While per-capita VMT did not reach record levels, aggregate driving did.

Mode choice

All of the above-and-beyond driving doesn’t necessarily mean increased transportation GHGs is absolute. Embracing such approaches as public transit use, carpooling, teleworking (working from the home), and even ones like walking and biking (where practical), if done in great numbers, taken together, this can have a positive impact.

Add to these more emissions-free vehicle buys and leases (use). If realized in great enough numbers, not only would the rise in emissions be slowed, but reversed.

Several factors or reasons could be behind why more such purchases and leases are not being made.

Among these are perceived high window-sticker price and the fact that charging and fueling (for fuel-cell vehicles) infrastructure is not at this time as common as is the infrastructure for gasoline- and diesel-dispensing. For these and other reasons opting for a non-polluting vehicle over a polluting one, may, for some, not be so easy to do.

However, with rebates and other incentives, the tables could turn with more and more drivers getting into the clean-car driver’s seat, irrespective of whether the autos are bought or leased.

Next, consider that whereas the motor vehicle for all intents and purposes provides door-to-door service, transit typically does not. The so-called first-mile, last-mile hurdle could be all it takes to keep a motorist stuck behind the wheel, even if the motorway commute takes longer and/or is lengthier.

Crashes

However we travel, whether on a city transit bus, in an urban rail conveyance such as via light rail transit, a commuter or long-distance passenger train, in an automobile or by boat, we must feel that the choices we make, are correct and, in so doing, we are going to arrive safely at our destinations.

Not to digress too much, but one observation of mine is that with all of the features offered on motor vehicles these days, you might think autos are safer than what has been the case in the past. For a time, the numbers of motor vehicle crash-related fatalities occurring on American roads were getting fewer. However, the numbers of such are right back up to where they once were at about 40,000 per year. The question is why the increase?

Distracted driving and/or lack of attention paid to driving. More people driving. More people driving more often. More people driving longer distances. More vehicles not being properly maintained with such developing mechanical and/or electrical issues or failures like a tire blowout occurring, for instance. A greater number of on-road hazards due to lack of enough infrastructure spending to keep the country’s travel infrastructure in a state of good repair. Manufacturer defects. All of this could explain the higher numbers. If so, this could very well mean the probability of a crash is higher.

Bottom line, transportation modes should be getting safer, not the other way around. Technology will no doubt play a critical role in terms of transportation development.

Land planning

Then there is the way in which land is utilized. How land is used can have a huge impact on how people get around. And, this, in turn, can influence pollutant amounts in the air.

Horizontal urban, suburban and exurban sprawl is one of the leading contributors to poor air quality in metropolitan areas. Another is the urban heat-island effect. Cities and neighborhoods that are designed in a way that reduce motor vehicle travel help lower the amount of pollution entering the air. The term most often associated with this is smart growth. Several of the key elements of smart growth are: building more densely and utilizing building design which allows for mixed use such as office or residential built above retail; putting places where people live and work closer together; incorporating transit and walkability as main components; designing streets that encourage walking, bicycling and motor vehicle traffic calming; and reducing to appropriate levels the number of parking spaces. Smart growth practices tend to be more pronounced in the larger metropolitan areas and less so in cities of not-so-great extent – the smaller ones, in other words.

The way forward

That transportation is now the leading contributor of emissions in the United States is no accident. Things did not get this way overnight and putting transportation on a cleaner path likewise will take time. But, it is an action worth investing in.

Remember: In this regard, doing nothing at all solves nothing. Fortunately, there are many places that are leading the way in being on board and on the right track. The reality is that pollution can be conquered. Whether it is or not is ultimately up to us. The time to get this right is now.

This post was last revised on Dec. 10, 2020 @ 7:28 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

– Alan Kandel