Sustainability of Transportation Meaning, Issues and the Future

What is Sustainable Transport?  “Satisfying current transport and mobility needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet these needs”  Analogous to Europe’s “sustainable mobility”  Analogous also to sustainable development where:  i. Rates of use of natural resources do not exceed their rates of generation  ii. Rates of use of non-renewable resources do not exceed rate at which sustainable renewable substitutes are developed  iii. Rates of pollution emission do not exceed the assimilative capacity of the environment

Factors Limiting Sustainability of Transport  Future of Petroleum- nonrenewable resource and price factors  Environmental Degradation- urban air quality and global atmosphere (acid rain)  High rates of accidents and fatalities  Congestion  Urban Sprawl and Excessive Land Consumed for Highway Construction

Solutions to Sustainable Transport Problem  Congestion pricing  Alternative fuels, hybrid autos and taxation of gasoline-California  New urban designs that decrease need for travel  Use of high speed rail to replace freeways