Measuring Regional Transportation Sustainability: An Exploration

Cities in the U.S. are often marked by sprawl and low density land use patterns, which contribute to high rates of energy and fuel consumption. This paper discusses how urban areas are confronting the challenges of sustainable transportation, and explores whether the three tenets of sustainability (economy, environment and equity) are necessarily in conflict with each other in achieving sustainable transportation. It also discusses how the measurement and implementation of sustainable transportation systems can be improved. A literature review was conducted to explore the general conception of regional sustainability and its indicators. Indicators and metrics for sustainable transportation are discussed and the performance of transportation sustainability at the regional and megaregion levels is measured. Alternative approaches to the development of indicators and metrics for sustainable transportation systems are examined. The author concludes that traditional sustainability measurement methods, which have been reductionist in nature, are insufficient for addressing the complex interdependencies of urban systems. The feasibility of measuring regional and megaregional interdependencies using non-reductionist approaches, such as complexity systems methods, should be studied to provide a good foundation for building initiatives and identifying strategic sustainability policies.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1768868
• Authors:
  • Ross, Catherine L
  • Stiftel, Bruce
  • Woo, Myungje
  • Rao, Arthi
• Publication Date: 2010

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 67-89
• Serial:
  • Urban Lawyer
  • Volume: 42
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: American Bar Association
  • ISSN: 0042-0905

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Literature reviews; Regional transportation; Regions; Sustainable development; Sustainable transportation; Urban areas; Urban development; Urban transportation policy
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Transportation (General); I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01351965
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 15 2011 7:31AM