Environmental and Energy Study Institute

A monthly review of energy, climate, and public health issues related to transportation

February 2009

Clean Motion covers stories that highlight opportunities and challenges across the transportation sector to reduce oil consumption, cut carbon emissions, and promote healthy communities.

Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Conference 2009-March 16-18, 2009
Hyatt Regency &Long Beach Convention Center Long Beach, California

Join world-renowned experts, fleet managers, government officials, business executives, and other clean vehicle professionals for this national conference on the latest technologies and fuels for heavy duty vehicles and buses. This one-of-a-kind event will explore a range of diverse solutions for challenges facing your business, including sessions on:

http://www.calstart.org/programs/chdvc/

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Stimulus Bill Boosts Transit, Raises Concerns About New Roads

An economic stimulus bill, which was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives last week and is now before the U.S. Senate, is likely to include at least $12 billion for capital investment in public transportation. The House version of the bill also includes $30 billion in highway funding, but it is unclear whether state transportation agencies would use the highway funds to repair existing roads and bridges or divert these funds toward new road construction. An analysis by Friends of the Earth of state project lists suggests the majority of funding would be diverted toward new road capacity versus maintenance and repair.

Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) introduced an amendment to raise transit funding by $6.5 billion dollars to $14.9 billion ($2.9 billion more than the House bill), while, amendments by Senators Murray (D-WA) and Feinstein (D-CA) would also add $13 billion to the current $27 billion for highway funding. Other Members of Congress in both the House and the Senate are considering ways that highway funding could prioritize maintenance of existing roads and bridges, which studies have suggested provide a more rapid and effective economic stimulus effect.

Resources
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a0_YimT6xlXM&refer=home
http://www.house.gov/smbiz/hearings/hearing-07-24-08-stimulus/Zandi.pdf
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123205843724587333.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/PressSummary01-15-09.pdf
http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/02/02/schumer-proposes-65b-more-for-tran...
http://www.house.gov/smbiz/hearings/hearing-07-24-08-stimulus/Zandi.pdf
http://www.foe.org/pdf/States_Stimulus_Report.pdf
http://www.peri.umass.edu/fileadmin/pdf/other_publication_types/green_ec...

New Transportation Secretary Voices Support for Rail, Transit, and Strong Federal Role

Former Illinois Republican Congressman Ray Lahood was sworn in as Secretary of Transportation for the Obama Administration on January 21. Mr. Lahood, whose 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives included tenure on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will face numerous challenges confronting federal transportation policy including a widening funding gap. The Highway Trust Fund is expected to have a negative balance this fiscal year for the first time since it was created. During his confirmation hearing, Mr. Lahood stressed the need for funding alternatives, including tolls on bridges and highways, in order to move away from heavy reliance on the federal gas tax.

Despite obvious funding challenges, Mr. LaHood discussed the need for a strong federal role in transportation policy, particularly where it connects with achieving national objectives such as addressing climate change, energy security, and economic recovery. He stated strong support for Amtrak, pledging to work with Congress to implement the Amtrak funding bill approved last year, and discussed the importance of transit funding in the upcoming economic stimulus package (see above article).

Resources
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1863062_18630...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122955244259215675.html
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2009/1/22/9416/56130
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE50L0HS20090122

Inauguration Showcases Potential for Transit, Walking, and Biking

With an influx of approximately two million people for the Presidential Inauguration, travelers from near and far employed all modes of transportation to get into the nation's capital, with the notable exception of the passenger car. City officials closed most bridges into the city and heavily restricted vehicular access to much of the area surrounding the day's events. Washington, D.C.'s MetroRail and MetroBus Systems, the primary means for many to get into the city that day, faced a major test with almost double its regular ridership. The system smashed its all-time single day record with 973,285 trips (the previous record was set the previous day with 866,681 trips, besting an earlier mark of 854,638). Metrorail operated rush hour service for 17 consecutive hours and extended service an extra two hours. By the end of the day, however, Metro and city officials had reported no major problems and no undue delays.

Thousands of people heeded advice from official and unofficial sources to use alternate forms of transportation. Walking was the most popular option overall, while bicycles had downtown streets mostly to themselves except in the areas closest to the Inauguration ceremony. The Washington Area Bicyclist Association, with support from America Bikes and the District Department of Transportation, arranged valet parking stations where cyclists could leave their bikes in close proximity to the National Mall and Inaugural parade route. Organizers remarked that the day highlighted the viability and importance of infrastructure for public transportation, walking, and biking.

Resources
http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article.asp?id=19430
http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=2431
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/inauguration-watch/2008/12/an_alternati...
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/12/23/inaugural-b...
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/bike-valets-for-inaugurati...
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1625309,00.html

Reduced Particulate Air Pollution Increases Life Expectancy, Study Finds

A recent Brigham Young University study indicates that reductions in particulate air pollution during the 1980's and 1990's led to an average five-month increase in life expectancy in 51 U.S. metropolitan areas. The study focused on the fine invisible particles produced by gasoline and diesel engines (other sources of particles include coal-fired power plants and cigarette smoke). Particulate air pollution and its impact on lung function and human health has been widely studied, but emerging research is shining new light on the seriousness and extent of the problem.

Panelists at “Public Health, Climate Change, and Transportation Policy,” an EESI sponsored briefing on Capitol Hill earlier this year, highlighted the connection between transportation emissions and public health. Researchers pointed out that vehicles account for more than half of major air pollutants-including dangerous particulate matter, nitrous oxide, and volatile organic compounds. Long-term exposure to particulate air pollutants from vehicles, especially diesel engines, leads to premature deaths, cancer, asthma, and other lung ailments. The research suggests that despite improved emissions from individual vehicles, increased traffic volumes and the closer proximity of tailpipe emissions to people compared to other pollution sources, makes automobiles a continued threat to public health.

Resources
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-sci-air22-2009jan22,0...
http://www.eesi.org/011409_health_transportation
http://files.eesi.org/lutaqh_092705.pdf
http://files.eesi.org/kinney_011409.pdf

Electric Drive Vehicles Excite Auto Shows

Public attention at the premier North American Auto Show in Detroit and the policy-oriented Washington, D.C. Auto Show were dominated by several new hybrid electric vehicles on display and announcements that automakers are pushing ahead on a variety of plug-in hybrid and all- electric vehicles, despite economic challenges to the industry. Ford announced plans for an all-electric commercial van in 2010, an all-electric small car in 2011, and a suite of next-generation hybrid vehicles including a plug-in version by 2012. Chrysler displayed two all-electric vehicles and prototype plug-in hybrid versions of a Jeep, sedan, and sports car models. General Motors showed the latest refinements to its Chevrolet Volt, due in 2010, and a prototype plug-in Cadillac.

Resources
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2009/01/13/car-makers-electrify
http://bgelectriccars.com/
http://www.reuters.com/article/privateEquity/idUSN1128475020090111
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99286134
http://www.automobilemag.com/green/news/0901_2009_detroit_auto_show_five...

Chinese Auto Industry Faces Its Own Challenges

China recently became the world's largest auto market, but a growing trend in car ownership has come to a halt and Chinese automakers are seeking government assistance to help navigate declining domestic and international sales.Sales of commercial vehicles are being propped up through a broader fiscal stimulus package and the industry is also pushing for a 10 percent cut in business taxes.

Resources
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/02/04/internationa...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123184016550476919.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
http://www.chinacartimes.com/2009/01/15/the-chinese-auto-bail-out-lower-...
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=140270
http://www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat/archives/2008/11/will_japans_...

Study Shows Auto Travel Decline Before and After Gas Price Spikes

Declining automobile travel figures amidst dramatic spikes in fuel prices in 2008 were widely reported. Auto travel has continued to decline, however, even as prices at the pump have precipitously dropped—the economic slowdown being at least a partial explanation. But a study by the Brookings Institution shows that distinct changes in Americans' driving behavior began much earlier. Researchers Robert Puentes and Adie Tomer, analyzing 1991-2008 data from all 50 states and America's 100 largest cities, found that total vehicle miles traveled per year, which had been growing one to two percent a year over previous decades, leveled off in 2004 and began dropping in 2007. Per capita travel trends went flat even earlier, in 2000, and started to decrease in 2005. The rates of decline are the steepest since World War II according to the report.

Resources
http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/reports/2008/1216_transportati...
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/12/17/study-finds-decline...
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/12/brookings-repor.html
http://www.ledgerdelaware.com/articles/2009/01/25/news/doc497a8c5a8032d8...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28812514/

President Obama Opens Term With Moves On Fuel Economy and Carbon Emissions

The first two Presidential Memoranda signed by President Barack Obama both addressed fuel economy and carbon emissions from motor vehicles. Declaring the moves “a down payment on broader and sustained effort to reduce our dependence on foreign oil”, the President ordered the U.S. Department of Transportation to set higher fuel economy standards for carmakers starting in the 2011 model year and directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to re-evaluate the request from California for a waiver that would allow the state to set its own standards for carbon emissions from cars and trucks. The Bush administration had previously denied the waiver. In 2007, Congress authorized the first increases in the federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE standard) since 1990, but the Administration has discretionary authority to implement more stringent rules.

Resources
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-emissions27-2...
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2009/2009-01-26-02.asp
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Economy/story?id=6732327&page=1

Oregon Considers Taxing Vehicle Miles Traveled Instead of Gas Tax to Fund Transportation

The State of Oregon has pursued numerous state and local policies to manage travel demand and reduce the state's dependence on fossil fuels, but its success has come at a high price—annual gas tax revenue has declined $4.8 million since just 2006. As a result, Oregon has been motivated to pursue new ways to fund construction and repair of its transportation infrastructure. The state budget prepared by the administration of Democratic Governor Theodore Kulongoski prescribes a highway tax based on miles traveled instead of gasoline sales.

A state task force is examining options to equip vehicles with a global positioning system or “GPS” device that would record the number of miles traveled by each vehicle. The subsequent tax would be calculated based on cumulative mileage regardless of how much fuel is consumed. The plan still needs approval by the state legislature, and finalizing rules to implement the concept could take years, but state officials are hopeful this will be a step forward in addressing a problem facing all states—sustainable funding for transportation that does not rely on the gas tax.

Resources

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gas-tax4-2009jan04,...
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/stor...

Governor Endorses NYC Plan to Fund Transit With Bridge Tolls

New York Governor David Paterson voiced for the first time his support for a plan to charge tolls on bridges crossing the East and Harlem Rivers into New York City as part of a strategy to both manage peak traffic and rescue the finances of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) which operates the subway and transit bus systems for the New York metropolitan area. The plan was developed as an alternative to a substantial fare increase that the MTA has been seeking. A proposal to supplement the toll plan with a tax on payrolls for companies in the region has also been discussed. These and other efforts are aimed at addressing $1.2 billion deficit in next year's MTA operating budget and filling a multi-billion dollar hole in its long-term capital budget.

Resources
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/nyregion/04transit.html?_r=2&emc=eta1

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