Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from U.S. Transportation

David L. Greene and Howard H. Baker, Jr. - Center for Public Policy
Steven E. Plotkin - Argonne National Laboratory
PEW
January 2011

Transportation is vital to our economy and quality of life. But it is also the primary cause of U.S. oil dependency, and is responsible for more than a quarter of U.S. emissions of the greenhouse gases that are warming our planet. This report examines whether we can substantially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from U.S. transportation. Report authors David Greene and Steve Plotkin provide three plausible scenarios of technology, policy, and public attitudes that result in cost-effective GHG reductions throughout the transportation sector. The High Mitigation Scenario shows we can reduce GHG emissions from transportation by as much as 65 percent below today’s levels by 2050. In order to do so, we need action on three fronts: targeted public policies, technological progress, and commitment from Americans as consumers and citizens.

Video

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Handbook of best practices at border crossings: A trade and transport facilitation perspective

OSCE - Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and UNECE
February 2012

A practical guide for government agencies and private sector bodies which operate border crossing points. Published by the OSCE and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.














Table of contents:

Foreword
Overview
1. Trade and Customs: The International Legal Framework
2. From Domestic to International Co-operation
3. Balancing Security with Trade and Transport Facilitation and Developing Partnerships with Private Industry
4. Processing of Freight: Policies for Control, Clearance and Transit
5. Risk Management and Selectivity
6. Options for the Design of Border Crossing Points
7. Information and Communications Technology and Non-Intrusive Inspection
Photo: OSCE

8. Human Resource Management
9. Measuring Border Agency Performance: Possibilities for Benchmarking
ANNEX 1: Border definitions
ANNEX 2: International organizations
Photo Credits
Abbreviations and Acronyms

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Achieving emissions reductions in the freight sector: Understanding freight flows and exploring reduction options

Georgetown Climate Center
James J. Winebrake, PhD.
Rochester Institute of Technology
Presented via Webinar for the Talking Freight Seminar: Freight and the Environment Part I
21 March 2012

Freight is closely tied to economic growth and is growing; unfortunately, the bulk of freight is moved by high energy-intensive and GHG-intensive modes (truck).

On behalf of the Transportation and Climate Initiative, Dr. James Winebrake recently conducted an analysis of all freight moving through the northeastern United States.

The presentation shows some examples of emissions, costs and time for freight routes, and potentially sets the stage for additional work in this area.

The IF-TOLD Mitigation Framework

• Intermodalism/Infrastructure– use of efficient modes and infrastructure
• Fuels – use of low carbon fuels
• Technology – application of efficient technologies
• Operations – best practices in operator behavior
• Logistics – improve supply chain management
• Demand – reduce how much STUFF we consume

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Identifying and using low-cost and quickly implementable ways to address freight-system mobility constraints

TRB
2010

TRB’s National Cooperative Freight Research Program (NCFRP) Report 7: Identifying and Using Low-Cost and Quickly Implementable Ways to Address Freight-System Mobility Constraints explores standardized descriptions of the dimensions of the freight transportation system, identifies freight mobility constraints in a multimodal context, highlights criteria for low-cost and quickly implementable improvements to address the constraints, and includes a software tool to help decision makers in evaluating constraints and selecting appropriate improvements.

The software tool is available for download in a .zip format. A user guide for the software is also available for download.

Project: Project Information
E-Newsletter Type: Recently Released TRB Publications
TRB Publication Type: NCFRP Report

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Accessibility in passenger transport: policy and management

Research in Transportation Business & Management
Volume 2, Pages 1-100
November 2011

Accessibility Policy and Planning

Does Accessibility Planning address what matters? A review of current practice and practitioner perspectives Original Research Article
Pages 3-11
Angela Curl, John D. Nelson, Jillian Anable

The use and abuse of accessibility measures in UK passenger transport planning Original Research Article
Pages 12-19
Derek Halden

Implementing accessibility planning for disadvantaged areas and groups

Improving access to employment and training in former coalfields areas in the UK: The Access Alliance Programme Original Research Article
Pages 20-28
Norman James, Clare Waldron

Developing and applying interactive visual tools to enhance stakeholder engagement in accessibility planning for mobility disadvantaged groups Original Research Article
Pages 29-41
Peter Jones

Management of accessibility by mode and by spatial area

Learning to cycle again: Examining the benefits of providing tax-free loans to purchase new bicycles Original Research Article
Pages 42-47
Brian Caulfield, James Leahy

Public transport accessibility through co-modality: Are interconnectivity indicators good enough? Original Research Article
Pages 48-56
Claudia de Stasio, Davide Fiorello, Silvia Maffii

Business strategies and technology for access by transit in lower density environments Original Research Article
Pages 57-64
Roger F. Teal, A. Jeff Becker

The key factors for providing successful public transport in low-density areas in The Netherlands Original Research Article
Pages 65-73
Wouter de Jong, Janneke Vogels, Karolien van Wijk, Otto Cazemier

Market concentration in coastal shipping and limitations to island's accessibility Original Research Article
Pages 74-82
Maria B. Lekakou, Thomas K. Vitsounis

Economic evaluation of accessibiltiy improvements

Passengers' valuations of universal design measures in public transport Original Research Article
Pages 83-91
Nils Fearnley, Stefan Flügel, Farideh Ramjerdi

Evaluating accessibility enhancements to public transport including indirect as well as direct benefits Original Research Article
Pages 92-100
Xenia Karekla, Taku Fujiyama, Nick Tyler

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Intermodal Strategies for Integrating Ports and Hinterlands

Research in Transportation Economics
Volume 33, Issue 1, Pages 1-66 (2011)
Special Issue: Intermodal Strategies for Integrating Ports and Hinterlands

Special Issue: Ports and hinterland – Evaluating and managing location splitting
Pages 1-5
Gordon Wilmsmeier, Rickard Bergqvist, Kevin P.B. Cullinane

Hinterland strategies of port authorities: A case study of the port of Barcelona Original Research Article
Pages 6-14
Roy Van den Berg, Peter W. De Langen

Information flows supporting hinterland transportation by rail: Applications in Sweden Original Research Article
Pages 15-24
Badi Almotairi, Jonas Flodén, Gunnar Stefansson, Johan Woxenius

Dynamics of Russian dry ports Original Research Article
Pages 25-34
Eugene Korovyakovsky, Yulia Panova

Financial and environmental impacts of hypothetical Finnish dry port structure Original Research Article
Pages 35-41
Ville Henttu, Olli-Pekka Hilmola

Placing dryports. Port regionalization as a planning challenge – The case of Hamburg, Germany, and the Süderelbe Original Research Article
Pages 42-50
Heike Flämig, Markus Hesse

The Indian dry ports sector, pricing policies and opportunities for public-private partnerships Original Research Article
Pages 51-58
Hercules Haralambides, Girish Gujar

The role of inland terminal development in the hinterland access strategies of Spanish ports Original Research Article
Pages 59-66
Jason Monios


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Intelligent governance of large urban systems

Vol 13 Nº 3
Networks industries quarterly
September 2011

For the first time in history, a majority of mankind are living in cities. While the continuous flow of technological innovations goes a long way in solving some of the pressing issues brought by this massive urbanization, the “software” required to adequately address this radical transformation - the institutional framework - often lags behind. Fortunately, as this edition of NIQ shows, multiple initiatives including an active involvement of the citizens have been undertaken to tackle some of the challenges.

Content:
- Cognitive cities and intelligent urban governance
- New challenges in the evaluation of Smart Cities
- Intelligent governance of large urban systems: What is at stake regarding transport issues?
- Comparative performance assessment of Smart Cities around the North Sea basin
- SCRAN: Assembling a community of practice for standardizing the transformation of eGovernment services
- Supporting sustainability through smart infrastructures: the case of Amsterdam
- Innovative ICT solutions for monitoring and facilitating international trade

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Utilizing Information Technology in Innovative Marketing Approaches for Public Transportation

William P. Morris, Kelly Robertson, Jeremy Spinks
National Center for Transportation Research
Center for Urban Transportation Research
University of South Florida
February 2010

The original objective of this study is to scan the internet and other information technology sources to identify innovative marketing techniques that have been attempted to date by, in and surrounding the public transportation industry, and to solicit ideas for more unconventional applications that transit agencies and TDM professionals can consider. The investigation led to the uses, applications, marketing and communications potential of social media for the public transportation and Transportation Demand Management industries. Social media afford low cost, high impact techniques that can be easily and quickly employed to reach target markets and audiences. The study also provides tools, in the form of a guidebook and dedicated website, for transit agencies to use the various social media for their own tailored marketing approaches. Social media tools addressed in the study include social networks, weblogs, audio/video blogs, microblogs, photo and video sharing, and user-generated content. In each, specific examples of applications for the public transit and Transportation Demand Management industries is examined and explained. The guidebook provides clear instructions for how agencies can utilize the media and the projected benefits, and is complete with embedded links to resources and information. There is also a dedicated website, www.gosocialtransit.com that accompanies the guidebook and provides an overview of each media and links to industry applications.

Download the final report.

Download the guidebook Routes to New Networks: A Guide to Social Media for the Public Transportation Industry

Intelligent Transport Systems

Sustainable Urban Transport Project
September 2009

GTZ sourcebook module on "Intelligent Transport Systems" updated

Technology has been playing an important role in promoting vehicular safety, reducing driving stress, comfortable travel and increased efficiency of the whole transport system. These technologies applied in a package are called “Intelligent Transport System (ITS)”.

Often, policy-makers are in a situation where they are not properly informed on the right technological choices. The GTZ Sourcebook module on “Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)” focuses on choices for a city and also informs the reader of the various available ITS options, their function and advantage.

The module was written by Mr. Phil Sayeg and Prof. Phil Charles and also updated by the authors.

Unregistered visitors may register here , login and proceed to download.

Web version

En español (2011):
Sistemas de transporte inteligentes
Módulo 4e
Transporte sostenible: Texto de referencia para formuladores de políticas públicas de ciudades en desarrollo

Logistics in lagging regions

Charles Kunaka
World Bank
December 2010

Small scale producers in developing countries lack easy access to efficient logistics services. They are faced with long distances from both domestic and international markets. Unless they consolidate their trade volumes they face high costs which diminish their ability to trade. However, the process of consolidation is not without cost nor does it occur on its own accord. As a result, the consolidation is typically handled by intermediaries.

Using case studies of sisal and soybean supply chains in Brazil and India respectively, this study explores the role and impact of intermediaries in facilitating trade in lagging regions. The study assesses the horizontal relationships between the small scale producers in thin markets and the vertical connections between different tiers of the same supply chain. The study analyzes the traditional approach to linking producers namely through cooperatives and itinerant traders and the relatively newer innovations using ICT.

The study finds that farmers linked through the different mechanisms are more integrated to international supply chains or are able to better manage supply chains longer than would otherwise be the case. Intermediaries play several roles including providing transport services and facilitating market exchanges, payments, risk sharing and quality improvements. Generally, information technology driven innovations make it easier to integrate adjacent steps in the value chain.

This report on logistics performance at the sub-national level is an on-going endeavour. Similar analysis is being carried out in some countries in Africa to identify the evolving role of intermediaries in low income regions. The results will be developed into a major publication on this topic, with recommendations on how development agencies, civil society and the private sector can improve the design of strategies to reduce logistics costs in low income areas.

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Intelligent transport systems in action: Action plan and legal framework for the deployment of intelligent transport systems (ITS) in Europe

European Union
2011

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Aspectos determinantes del estado de la facilitación del transporte en América Latina: Los casos de Colombia y el Perú (Comunidad Andina de Naciones)

Marelia Martínez Rivas
CEPAL
Studies and perspectives series, Washington - 8
Diciembre 2010

Pese a que el debate sobre la facilitación del comercio y del transporte ha sido bastante amplio, se ha centrado en el ámbito de comercio exterior y, sobre todo, en la simplificación de los trámites aduaneros. No obstante, la situación que afrontan los agentes de comercio internacional respecto del transporte en los tramos domésticos se ha tratado de manera muy tangencial y por lo general focalizada en la problemática fronteriza.

Sobre la base de una revisión conceptual y del estado en que se encuentran los aspectos que comprende el término “facilitación del transporte”, en el presente documento se explora la relación entre el impulso que le han dado algunos gobiernos y el consiguiente crecimiento de las exportaciones no tradicionales, así como los retos que afrontan los pequeños y medianos productores para ser competitivos internacionalmente cuando carecen de escala suficiente como para generar las soluciones logísticas pertinentes. Se analizan en detalle los esfuerzos realizados por varios países de la región andina —en particular Colombia y el Perú— para solventar estas restricciones, abordando el tema de la facilitación desde un punto de vista distinto al de la infraestructura: el de los demandantes de servicios de transporte y logística y de quienes ofrecen dichos servicios, esto es, la perspectiva de la demanda en comparación con la tradicional de la oferta.

En el estudio se concluye que si bien todavía existen brechas en materia de infraestructura, hay señales de que el problema está siendo atendido y se resolverá gradualmente. De ahí que en la actualidad los retos principales sean crear un sistema troncal de movimiento de carga que incluya redes y nodos logísticos y promover la calidad y diversificación de la oferta de servicios conexos de valor agregado mediante el fortalecimiento de los operadores de transporte, todo ello incorporando las nuevas tecnologías de la información y de las comunicaciones (TIC) del caso y adaptando la participación privada a las nuevas modalidades de funcionamiento que exige el sistema.

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Environmental impact of road freight transport in 2020: Full report of a Delphi survey

M.I. Piecyk and A.C. McKinnon
Logistics Research Centre
School of Management and Languages
Heriot-Watt University
Edinburgh
EH14 4AS
August 2009

Green logistics

This report summarises the results of a Delphi survey of 100 logistics specialists which sought their views on future freight transport and environmental trends in the UK up to 2020.

According to this panel of experts, over 50% of companies involved in road freight transport operation are likely to see their activities affected by climate change concerns to a significant or large extent by 2015. This proportion is expected to rise to over 80% by 2020.

Some long-established production and logistics trends which exert a strong influence on road freight demand, such as the centralisation of manufacturing and inventory, the adoption of JIT replenishment and the outsourcing of non-core activities, cannot continue indefinitely. The results of the Delphi survey reported in this paper suggest that these trends are likely to continue at least until 2020. The following trends were identified as most likely to occur up to 2020:

• Further relocation of production capacity to other countries.
• Increase in primary consolidation of inbound loads to manufacturing plants and/or distribution centres.
• Significant growth in online retailing.
• Reverse logistics is likely to gain in importance with more products reentering the supply chains for recycling, refurbishment and resale.
• More frequent ‘out-of-hours’ operation, especially increase in proportion of night-time deliveries.
• Growth in the use of advanced IT systems for transport planning and management (telematics, computerised vehicle routing and scheduling, etc).
• Increase in logistical collaboration initiatives between companies.
• Greater use of online freight exchanges online and load matching services.
• Fuel prices and availability of drivers were identified as major threats to the road freight industry.

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Nuevas tecnologías en el transporte marítimo y la infraestructura de puertos

Notas núm. 128, Enero-Febrero 2011, artículo 1
Instituto Mexicano del Transporte

El transporte marítimo es la acción de llevar personas o cosas por mar, de un punto geográfico a otro a bordo de un buque con un fin lucrativo.

La innovación tecnológica en el transporte marítimo se manifiesta principalmente en la contenerización cada vez mayor de la carga y en la tendencia a utilizar buques cada vez más grandes. En los puertos, ésta se manifiesta en la modernización del equipamiento, en la prestación de servicios de valor agregado y en la utilización de tecnologías de punta en materia de informática y comunicaciones.

En este trabajo se presentan las nuevas tecnologías del transporte marítimo y el reto de dicho modo de transporte a la respuesta de los puertos.

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Border management modernization

Editors: Gerard McLinden, Enrique Fanta, David Widdowson and Tom Doyle
World Bank
2011

This book provides border management policymakers and reformers with a broad survey of key developments in and principles for improving trade facilitation through better border management, including practical advice on particular issues. In contrast to the traditional border management reform agenda, with its focus on improving customs operations, this book addresses both customs reform and areas well beyond customs-a significant broadening of scope. The book thus presents a new, more comprehensive approach to trade facilitation through border management reform: an approach that embraces a much wider, 'whole of government' perspective.

The objective of this book is to summarize and provide guidance on what constitutes good practices in border management looking beyond customs clearance. The contributions to the volume make clear that there are no simple or universally applicable solutions. Instead, the aim is to provide a range of general guidelines that can be used to better understand the complex border management environment and the interdependencies and interrelationships that collectively need to be addressed to secure meaningful change and improvement.

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A smarter transportation system for the 21st century

Frost & Sullivan

A Frost & Sullivan White Paper

2010

Globalization, for better or worse, is a dominant feature of our world. As barriers between continents, countries and cities have diminished, and a surging population has urbanized, economic growth and prosperity have become inextricably linked to accessibility; accessibility to markets, to production materials, to services, to food and to culture, which are all preconditions for human survival. The increasing density of urban living, however, can slow the movement of people as well as goods; therefore, accessibility is dependent on an efficient and intricate global network of air, rail, road, and water links between and within our population centers of cities and megacities.

This paper finds that our aging transportation system is threatening to restrain globalization as current systems are struggling to meet the needs of this highly urbanized planet in which the business of moving goods and people from one place to another typically generates toxic byproducts and lost productivity. Ground-breaking innovations in transportation technology are difficult for the current system to accommodate, and the system itself has yet to evolve to meet the changed set of fundamental needs and demands placed on it. Whereas the system has not yet completely gridlocked, we clearly need something that is smarter, more efficient, and better than what we have now.

We think the answer is a new ecosystem that marries information technology to the global air, rail, road, and water transportation networks.

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Efforts to Address Highway Congestion through Real-Time Traffic Information Systems Are Expanding but Face Implementation Challenges

Government Accountability Office - GAO

November 2009

Growing congestion on our nation’s roads results in wasted time and fuel, which adversely affects the economy and the environment. State and local government agencies and private companies disseminate real-time traffic information to help travelers decide whether to use alternative, less congested routes. Legislation enacted in 2005 required the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish the Real-Time System Management Information Program, in order to provide states the capability to monitor traffic and travel conditions on major highways and share that information. As requested, this GAO report addresses, among other things, (1) how the public and private sectors disseminate real-time traffic information to the public, (2) actions DOT has taken to establish the Real-Time System Management Information Program, and (3) experts’ views on the need for a nationwide real-time traffic information system and its potential characteristics.

To conduct this study, GAO visited sites in California and Florida, which have well-developed traffic information systems; reviewed and analyzed DOT reports and data; and interviewed transportation officials, experts, and other stakeholders. GAO is not making any recommendations at this time because DOT has not finalized the proposed rule it issued in January 2009, and there was no consensus from the experts GAO interviewed as to whether an increased federal role in this area is appropriate or what this role might be.

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UNCTAD Division on Technology and Logistics Activity Report 2008

UNCTAD
October 2009



This report presents an overview of the activities undertaken by the three branches of the Division on Technology and Logistics (DTL) in 2008. It is complemented by stories from beneficiaries in developing countries.

In 2008, the Division underwent a number of changes, the most important of which was the transfer of the Science and Technology Section from the Division on Investment and Enterprise to DTL. This, among other factors, led to a change in the name of the division from "Services Infrastructure for Development and Trade Efficiency" (SITE) to "Technology and Logistics" (DTL) in order to better reflect the type of work undertaken.

DTL consists of three branches:

Science, Technology and ICT Branch;
Knowledge Sharing, Training and Capacity Development Branch; and
Trade Logistics Branch, including the ASYCUDA programme.

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Infraestructuras inteligentes: las autopistas del futuro

Real Academia de Ingeniería
November 2009

En esta Sesión de la RAI se presento un nuevo y ambicioso proyecto de I+D+i (CENIT) que investiga la configuración de la autopista del futuro –que deberá ser inteligente, segura y sostenible-, algunos casos prácticos de implantación de nuevas tecnologías así como de otros desarrollos tecnológicos en marcha.

Díptico de presentación

Ponencias:
Proyecto Oasis: Operación de autopistas seguras, inteligentes y sostenibles
Federico García-Linares Fontes
Responsable de I+D de OHL Concesiones y Coordinador del Proyecto Oasis

Sistemas avanzados de peaje free-flow: Aplicación práctica en el viaducto bicentenario de México D.F.
Alonso Bautista Trovo
Director de Sistemas de Peaje de INDRA

GNSS y el pago por el uso de infraestructuras
Sara Gutierrez Lanza
Coordinadora de la División de Ingeniería y Aplicaciones de Navegación de GMV. Directora del Proyecto GINA (GNSS for Innovative road Applications)

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La contribución de las TIC a la sostenibilidad del Transporte en España

Real Academia de Ingeniería
Junio 2009

La RAI recomienda el uso de las TIC para un transporte sostenible
La Real Academia de Ingeniería presentó el Estudio sobre las TIC y la sostenibilidad del transporte en España.

España puede situarse a la vanguardia de la revolución tecnológica que permitirá reducir miles de toneladas de emisiones de CO2 a la atmósfera. El uso de las TIC es indispensable en esta carrera, y por este motivo, la Real Academia de Ingeniería presentó el "Estudio sobre las TIC y la Sostenibilidad del Transporte en España", con el que pretende abrir un debate entre las administraciones, las universidades y las empresas sobre el potencial de estas tecnologías.

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