‘Fuel’ing America’s transportation future: And the winner is …

The fuel that’s going to drive America’s transportation future: What will it be? One authority, Diesel Technology Forum Executive Director Allen Schaeffer, in the “Bright Future For Diesel In The Natural Gas Revolution” press release, shed some light. “While the nation’s truckers will ultimately be the ones to answer that question, according to international and … Read more

Air quality improvement at the Port of Long Beach: Yesterday, today and …

I first wrote about the Port of Long Beach (POLB) California air quality issues back on Nov. 7, 2012 in “Regarding air-pollution cleanup at the Port of Long Beach: A progress report” here. Encouraging was the news then; it is even more so now. Then “Between 2005 and 2011, POLB air-pollution clean-up gains have been … Read more

To sequester harmful emissions start with transportation – Part 1: Trucks

In any area with pernicious air pollution, you would think those living with such would be moved to do what they themselves can do to help in its reduction. I live in such a region – California’s San Joaquin Valley – and I, among a cohort of conscientious, concerned and interested area denizens, are actively … Read more

Reducing transport emissions could boost health, save trillions, study finds

A new study – A Global High Shift Scenario – from the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) and the University of California at Davis (UC Davis) finds that by significantly reducing reliance on traditional motor vehicle use and substituting that with more air-friendly means of transport; namely, walking, biking and public transit, such associated … Read more

On the move: A quarter-million electric vehicles and growing

So … since Sept. 15th to the 21st this year is “National Drive Electric Week,” I decided I wanted to investigate electric vehicle numbers and operation in the broader context of total vehicle numbers and operation. In my previous post: “Thoughts on ‘National Drive Electric Week’,” and echoing what Plug In America had first so-declared … Read more

Nix NOx where it counts: In – and before it enters – the air

Just say ‘No’ to NOx? I read somewhere that there is naturally forming NOx, or nitrogen oxide (a gaseous substance) in the air. Then there’s the other kind: the NOx that’s been introduced into the atmosphere through unnaturally occurring events or activities. That’s the far more well-known variety. You should be aware that in the San Joaquin Valley … Read more

More miles driven means more emissions, period, and more, not less, are driving

Six months ago – to the day – I posted “American traffic, travel and transportation profile – 2013.” In that posting I emphasized: “Beginning with aggregate vehicle miles traveled (VMT), the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration reports in its ‘Traffic Volume Trends: December 2013’ survey that the estimated 2013 cumulative VMT was 2.9723 … Read more

Calif. air cleaner despite more people, more miles driven, more gas burned. The road ahead?

Fact: California has some of the worst air pollution in all of North America. Add to this that population and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) have grown. There would seem a connection. Meanwhile, the California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board (ARB) projects the growth in both population and VMT will continue. From the ARB’s “California Almanac of Emissions … Read more

Should American freight/passenger rail go their separate ways?

Calling for separate if not equal passenger- and freight-train-operating platforms As a person who pays close attention to railroad happenings, in particular to those in the U.S. and those proposed or planned high-speed-rail systems here as well as those under consideration, those under construction and those built and operating systems elsewhere, I know when I … Read more