DOT Awards Research Contract to Solar Roadways

Solar Roadways announced that it has been awarded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) contract that will enable them to prototype the first ever Solar Road Panel.

Solar Roadways said that its planned roadway upgrades could collect solar energy to power businesses and homes via structurally-engineered solar panels that are driven upon, to be placed in parking lots and roadways in lieu of petroleum-based asphalt surfaces. To read the full article, click here.

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Pedestrian-Friendly Developments Offer More Than Just Safety

According to a study conducted by CEOs for Cities, houses in pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods with superior walkability scores had significantly higher home values than others. Taking into consideration many of the factors that can influence home prices in a region, the study found that in 13 out of the 15 areas examined, a higher walkability score correlated to an increase in housing values. In fact, the study further elaborated that for each point increase in walkability score, a neighborhood could see between a $700 and $3,000 increase in home value. The scoring for walkability ranges from 0 (car dependent) to 100 (most walkable) and is based off of a complex algorithm based on how many destinations are within a calculated walking distance.

"There are a number of trends that are reshaping the American Dream," said Carol Coletta, President and CEO of CEOs for Cities, "and the value home buyers now place on living close to more daily destinations is one of the most important. Now, planning, zoning, and development decisions have to catch up to consumers."

Transit Oriented Development, which aims at achieving high-density, mixed used development, has become a hot topic in the planning world. What was once to thought to save money at the pump may now save us in more ways than previously thought.

For more specific information on this study, click on the link below.

To view the article on the study Click Here

To further view this study in greater detail Click Here

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Volvo Develops 'Intelligent' Prototypes to Cut Queue Accidents

According to the European Truck Accident Causation Study published in 2007, some 47% of all truck accidents occur either in queuing traffic, with vehicles traveling in the same direction, or at high-stress situations such as road junctions and road works. To help reduce the accident rates in these situations, the European Union Project, Highly Automated Vehicles for Intelligent Transport (HAVEIt), is developing technologies to help produce a new generation of “intelligent vehicles” equipped with advanced driver-assistance systems. This will enable vehicle speed to be automatically adjusted to traffic flow, and provide automated queue support, a temporary “autopilot” function, and active eco-driving.
Volvo Technology is one of 20 companies taking part in the HAVEIt project. Currently, the aim is to demonstrate the technologies in a total of seven vehicles, including three heavy commercial vehicles from Volvo, in 2011. To that end, the company is currently developing two vehicles: one focused more on safety systems, the other on systems that can demonstrate an environmental benefit.
To read the rest of the article, click here.

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Highway Trust Fund Depletion

There is a disturbing trend in federal transportation funding, a quickly depleting Highway Trust Fund. Currently the fund is paying out more than it is collecting, and as a result, is depleting at alarming rates. In 2008 the Highway Trust Fund, which provides funding for all federal highway projects, required an emergency $8 Billion action from Congress to keep it from going bankrupt. The same dilemma repeated itself this summer, with Congress passing emergency funding in the amount of $7 Billion to prevent it from going bankrupt again. Conservative estimates have the same problem repeating itself in 2010.

There are a number of contributing factors to the rapid depletion of the Highway Trust Fund, which is funded primarily through an eighteen cent tax on motor vehicle fuel. During the past two years, vehicle miles travelled have declined for the first time since the automobile become prominent in US society, which translates into less fuel sales. Also contributing to fewer fuel sales is the improvement in vehicle fuel efficiency, so although cars are still being driven, they require less fuel than in the past. Other factors that have depleted the Highway Trust Fund are the rapidly increasing costs of construction materials. Since 2006 the cost of asphalt, steel and concrete, the primary components in road construction has increased an average of 40%. Having declining revenue, with increasing costs is a guaranteed formula for a deficit.

This is a serious problem, one that cannot continually be addressed with additional funds from the general fund. With the Transportation Equity Act, the federal law that funds transportation projects set to expire in 2009, the problem can only get worse. Congress has been working on drafting a new Transportation Equity Act; however it will not take priority to other issues of national concern. With the Congress dealing with other issues, our nation’s infrastructure will continue to worsen. Even when the bill becomes top priority, there is still disagreement over how to fund future transportation investments. Some want to raise the fuel tax and index it to grow with inflation, others want to implement a tax vehicle miles traveled, another recommendation is to increase the number of toll roads, and of course privatization has also been discussed.

All the methods being discussed for raising transportation funds have unique benefits and detractors. Until transportation takes the forefront of the national debate, the problem will not be resolved. As much help as the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act provided, it is no substitute for a Transportation Equity Act. The longer the Congress waits to act on transportation, the longer we will have to wait to start rebuilding our infrastructure.

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United States could cut carbon emission by as much as 47% by 2050

A recent report sponsored by the Department of Transportation reviled that the United States could cut carbon emission by as much as 47% by 2050 through the use of different carbon cutting strategies. The study was the first of its kind to link the relationship of transportation efficiency to green house gas reductions. As of today, the Transportation Sector makes up for 28% of U.S carbon emissions and makes up nearly half of the Nation’s total increase in greenhouse gases since 1990.

Nearly 50 different carbon-cutting transportation strategies were examined and the report concluded that carbon emissions could be reduced 24% by 2050, simply by changing travel behavior and current development patterns. The emissions reduction grew to 47% when pricing and taxing measures such as pay-as-you-go insurance and charging by miles driven were included.

Carbon Cutting Strategies Include:

· Reducing Speed Limits

· Encouraging better land use planning

· Investing in Carpooling and Shuttle Programs

· Improving Capacity and expansion of Public Transit

· Pricing and Taxing Measures

· Utilizing ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems)

In the Philadelphia region, Transit Oriented Development (TOD) has become more widely accepted. The idea is to focus new development around existing transit centers, which both revitalizes urban cores and combats urban sprawl, decreasing the American dependency on the Automobile. Which is a step in the right direction, as a recent study by the Texas Transportation Institute found that Philadelphia was one of three major nation-wide cities which did not see a decrease in traffic congestion from 2007. Through proper land use initiatives, we can not only help ease our daily commutes, but also make a significant positive impact on the environment as well.

A link to the New York Times article can be found HERE

A link to the executive summary of the study can be found HERE

A link to the Texas Traffic Institute 2009 annual Urban mobility Report can be found HERE

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