PANEL DISCUSSION: COMMUNITY IMPACTS AND LOCAL AUTONOMY

This discussion concerns itself with possible transportation of energy impacts in urban and other areas. For example, an important issue in Pennsylvania is that of coal haul roads. Local roads in the rural areas of the state are not really constructed to handle the increase in traffic flow of very heavy trucks that would result if coal production were increase to the level specified in this country's long term energy policy. Townships in these areas lack the fiscal means to keep these roads in proper repair; and local residents have contend with badly damaged pavements, as well as the other safety and environmental hazards associated with coal mining. Increased coal usage can cause problems at the consuming end also. In New York City, for example, air quality standards would have to be drastically relaxed to accomodate the use of high-sulphur appalachian coal. New facilities would have to be built to handle the large volume of coal that would be coming in. In Boston, bringing liquid natural gas into the harbor may have considerable economic impact over and above the safety rim. When an LNG tanker enters the harbor, no other shipping is allowed in. Flights to and from Logan Airport that might pass over a tanker are stopped. The costs of these delays may be considerable. Furthermore, LNG shipment and storage may be a disincentive to future investments in the areas around the harbor. These and other examples point up the need to carefully consider the various economic, environmental and equity tradeoff associated with the use of various energy sources.

• Record URL:
  https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trcircular/216/216-015.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00978515
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Brobst, W A
  • Lovejoy, W B
  • Gamble, H B
  • Hudson, K S
• Publication Date: 1980-4

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: p. 37-41
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Circular
  • Issue Number: 216
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0097-8515

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Axle load force; Coal; Conferences; Economic impacts; Energy; Environmental impacts; Equity; Freight transportation; Harbors; Heavy vehicles; Liquefied gases; Rural areas; Social impacts; Tankers; Trucks; Urban areas
• Old TRIS Terms: Community consequences; Truck pavement damage
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Environment; Freight Transportation; Highways; Marine Transportation; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; Society; Terminals and Facilities; I10: Economics and Administration; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00315318
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jan 19 1981 12:00AM