Monday, October 5, 2009

Roads less traveled

by Lisa Caruso
National Journal posted in CCAP News
September 12th 2009

Environmentalists want Congress to require the transportation sector to cut
greenhouse-gas emissions by reducing the need for driving.

On July 28, the Urban Land Institute released a controversial report on strategies for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions from transportation sources. Titled "Moving Cooler," the report was produced in conjunction with several environmental groups, federal agencies, foundations, public-transit and transportation-technology advocates, and Shell Oil. Their study examined an array of measures to cut fuel consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions by reducing the number of miles that Americans drive and improving the efficiency of the surface transportation network.

Although the report looked at numerous strategies, what drew the most attention -- and quick condemnation -- from transportation advocacy groups were the proposals to
encourage denser land-use patterns to reduce the need for driving and to promote
greater use of nonmotorized transportation alternatives. Critics from organizations
representing road builders, contractors, and highway users called "Moving Cooler"
unrealistic and characterized it as an attack on Americans' freedom to travel.

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