"It's pretty settled science that capacity expansion induces demand. We know that while it relieves traffic in the short term, there's pent-up demand that suggests it just fills up again in short order. There's ample evidence that if you lower costs, demand increases."

                                                                                                         Steven Cliff, Phd                                                                                                                                          Assistant Director of Sustainability, Caltrans
                        (11.20.15)
This Week's Items of Interest
November 24, 2015
People - Sustainable Mobility - Video

An excellent video on Sustainable Mobility   (11.19. 2015)

 Watch
People - Traffic - Congestion

New Highway Users' Study Identifies and Ranks
America's Worst 50 Traffic Bottlenecks 
(11.23.2015)

A new study released today by the American Highway Users Alliance identifies America's 50 worst bottlenecks and finds that the very worst bottleneck, as measured by hours of delay, is in Chicago, IL. Los Angeles, CA owns the next six of the top 10.

Speaking at the American Highway Users Alliance press conference, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said, "This report furthers the unassailable truth that America is stuck in traffic. The good news is that this problem is solvable, and Congress can be part of the solution. As a long-term surface transportation bill moves through conference, I urge our elected leaders to provide the funding growth and policies that are necessary to improve commutes, to raise the bar for safety, and to keep the country moving in the 21st century."
People - Complete Streets 

Local officials talk transportation on Going Green: Complete streets plan, sustainable transportation discussed  (11.23.2015)

The latest episode of "Going Green" features a panel discussion about the local complete streets plan as well as sustainable transportation options in San Benito County.
People - Traffic Safety

Zig zag road stripes can get drivers to pay more attention 
(11.23.2015)

At 11 points in northern Virginia, the familiar straight dashed lines on the road give way to a series of zig zags. The unusual markings, the result of a project from the Virginia Department of Transportation, are meant to alert drivers to be cautious where the W&OD Trail intersects with the road- and bicyclists and pedestrians frequently cross. After a year-long study of this striping treatment, Virginia DOT officials say the markings are effective and should become part of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices-the playbook for American street designers.
People - Thanksgiving - Quiz

Thanksgiving
Test your knowledge of Turkey Day with this quiz

Planet - Carbon Emission Reduction
Transportation Emissions Could Be Cut in Half by 2050  (11.20.2015)

One year after a bike path outside Amsterdam was plastered with custom solar panels, it's generating more power than predicted-and the designers are convinced that it's proof that networks of solar-covered roads could eventually be a viable energy source.
While typical rooftop solar panels are cheaper to build and can pump out more power, the  SolaRoad team argues that pavement could add valuable real estate as roofs start to fill up. In the Netherlands, there's more available space on roads than all rooftops combined.
People - Thanksgiving - Smart Apps
Thanksgiving is one of those times when you find yourself frantically juggling dozens of tricky tasks. But nowadays you don't need to panic about task planning, recipe ideas or even cooking because your smartphone is the perfect tool for easing your holiday stress
Planet - Wildlife Preservation

Bay Bridge pier blast hurt no wildlife, Caltrans says  (11.24.2015)

 The underwater implosion of a five-story pier of the old Bay Bridge on Nov. 14 went off with no effect on bay wildlife and less than expected effect on water quality, according to an initial review.
A curtain of bubbles enveloping the structure effectively protected fish and birds, Caltrans said Tuesday morning. The curtain cut the blast effect by an estimated 80 percent, Caltrans said.
 Read More 
Planet - Electrical Vehicle - Coal Emissions

Electric cars and the coal that runs them (11.23.2015)

ROTTERDAM - In this traffic-packed Dutch city, electric cars jostle for space at charging ­stations. The oldest exhaust-spewing vehicles will soon be banned from the city center. Thanks to generous tax incentives, the share of electric vehicles has grown faster in the Netherlands than in nearly any other country in the world.
But behind the green growth is a filthy secret: In a nation famous for its windmills, electricity is coming from a far dirtier source. Three new coal-fired power plants, including two here on the Rotterdam harbor, are supplying much of the power to fuel the Netherlands' electric-car boom.
Planet - Climate 

6 Steps To A Climate-Friendly Thanksgiving   
(11.24.2015)
 
Figuring out just how to reduce your personal carbon impact can be a daunting, and at times, confusing task (just ask the King of Sweden, who recently decided to  give up baths for the environment).
Getting through Thanksgiving, when emissions-heavy activities like airline travel and tables full of food are the norm, can be a especially tricky for a die-hard climate activist. Here are have a few tips for a more climate-friend Thanksgiving. (We can't help with the food coma, though.)
Prosperity - Economic Savings


What if, instead of basing policy around the presumption that people will drive more every year, transportation agencies started making decisions to reduce the volume of driving? And what if they succeed?
A  new report from the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group quantifies what would happen in that state if driving rates come in one percentage point lower than the state DOT's current annual projections. For instance, in a year that the DOT forecasts 0.49 percent growth in driving, MassPIRG hypothesizes a 0.51 percent decrease. MassPIRG estimates that the statewide effect from now until 2030 would add up to about $20 billion in savings and 23 million metric tons of carbon emissions avoided.
Prosperity - Water

Parched Emirates relies on sea as groundwater runs out  (11.23.2015)

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - As skyscrapers and gleaming towers rose with lightning speed across the United Arab Emirates over the past two decades, the Gulf nation's thirst for water grew at an enormous rate - so much so that today, it threatens to dry up all of the country's groundwater in as little as 15 years, experts say.
To quench that demand, cities across the seven emirates that make up the UAE rely on desalinated seawater to supply 98 percent of their drinking water, but that comes with a tremendous environmental and fiscal cost.
Prosperity - Bridge Construction


NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - Caltrans has completed construction of the new Highway 29 Troutdale Creek bridge.
The project is done one year ahead of the original late 2016 completion date and Caltrans is now anticipating opening the new bridge to traffic at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23.  The bridge is in northwest Napa County between Calistoga and Middletown.
Prosperity - Sustainable Infrastructure

These Trippy Dutch Underpasses Prove That Infrastructure Doesn't Have to Be Dull  (11.24.2015)

This work follows in the rich Dutch tradition of commissioning contemporary art in the public domain," according to a press release, "where improving the quality of the public space is paired with creating a safe, sustainable and functional access to the city itself.
Previous Editions: Sustainability Items of Interest
08/27/15
 09/02/15
 09/09/15
 09/16/15
 09/23/15 09/30/15
10/07/15 10/13/15 10/20/28 10/28/15 11/04/15 11/12/15 11/18/18







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