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What is Sustainability?

Lifecycle Sustainable Transportation Christopher Juniper, SustainALogic , USA ATRA Member/Treasurer. What is Sustainability? Maximized economic, environmental and social performance…that protects the next generation from this one. Nature Ecological health; Water; Climate Economy

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What is Sustainability?

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  1. Lifecycle Sustainable TransportationChristopher Juniper, SustainALogic, USAATRA Member/Treasurer What is Sustainability? Maximized economic, environmental and social performance…that protects the next generation from this one. Nature Ecological health; Water; Climate Economy Local/national wealth and job creation/retention; Minimized costs of service Well-Being Personal capital development – health, education, etc.; Affordable quality of living Society National/regional security and resilience; Governance; Fairness

  2. Lifecycle Sustainable Transportation UN Sustainable Development Goals (Adopted 17SDGs in 2015 to achieve by 2030) Target 11.2 of Goal 11 “provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport…” “Sustainable transport is essential to achieving most, if not all, of the SDGs…” World Bank Global Mobility Report (Oct. 2017): Mobility should be equitable, efficient, safe and climate responsive. ”

  3. Lifecycle Sustainable Transportation Lifecycle is at the heart of sustainability Example: Toyota lifecycle study of carbon footprint of its vehicles: 80% from their use; 14% materials development; 6% Toyota’s mfg operations. Energy/GHGs lifecycles likely comprise 80-90% of environmental impacts of everything (unless highly toxic). Lifecycle sustainability performance SHOULD be a key decision-making factor at initial design phase!

  4. Lifecycle Sustainable Transportation UN High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport (2016): 10 recommendations starting with… “Make transport planning, policy and investment decisions based on the three sustainable development dimensions: social development, environmental impacts, and economic growth – and a full life-cycle analysis.”

  5. Lifecycle Sustainable Transportation Are Transit Decision-makers Using Sustainability Performance Screens/Thinking? MTBA (Boston) Sustainability Guiding Principles includes “ensure that environmental, social and economic considerations are included in its design, construction, procurement…etc.” Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning (EU): New WBCSD planning tool includes 19 “Sustainability Mobility Indicators” Is Sustainable Mobility Planning the future??

  6. Lifecycle Sustainable Transportation Lifecycle Sustainability Management System asks – via quantitative LCA and qualitative assessments: What’s the most sustainable transport? • Nature • Ecological health, Water, Climate • Economy • Local/national wealth and job creation; Minimized costs of service; Truthful prices; • Well-Being • Personal capital development – health, education, etc.; Affordable quality of living • Society • National/regional security and resilience; Governance;Env. Justice/Fairness

  7. Lifecycle Sustainable Transportation Advanced Transit should win most sustainability metrics! • Nature • Lightweight, on-demand, maybe sustainable-energy powered vehicles minimizes ecological impacts including land-use and GHGs; TODs further reduce GHGs. • Economy • Least cost per service unit (pass or freight mile/km) saves wealth for better uses and retains it regionally; facilitates TODs that reduce combined housing/transp. costs;

  8. Lifecycle Sustainable Transportation Advanced Transit should win most sustainability metrics! • Well-Being • Minimal cost transport allows personal budgets to spend scarce$$ on critical needs e.g. health, higher education, housing etc. I.e. greater mobility access. Safer. • Society • Distributed energy systems more resilient and better for national security. Fuel switching away from imported uranium or petroleum is a positive. Better to be moved around above grade as oceans rise…??

  9. Lifecycle Sustainable Transportation Dramatically efficient energy/GHGstransport Ultra: “System typically provides at least a 50% carbon emissions benefit over buses and 70% over cars.” “In peak periods when cars and busses are restricted by congestion, over 90%.” PRT “uses less than 1/3 the energy per passenger km than autos or public transit” skyTran estimates: 100 watt hours per passenger mile, compared to 1500 for 25 MPG auto and 250-300 for electric autos.

  10. Lifecycle Sustainable Transportation Most efficient travel, direct energy use only (Passenger Miles Per Gallon estimates, Juniper, 2011-17) Electric bicycle: 2,185 Bicycle: 710 Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) (w/4 pass): 667 Walking: 393 PRT (w/1.5 pass): 314 Heavy rail (electric): 225 Electric cars (w/1.5 pass): 72-180 (Bolt = 180, Leaf/Tesla = 150) Commuter rail: 43 Air travel: 43 Average US car purchased 2009 (22 MPG; w/1.5 pass): 35 Average transit bus, US, 2009 (9 riders/vehicle): 28 Average US car purchased 2009 w/1 pass): 22

  11. Lifecycle Sustainable Transportation CONCLUSIONS • Sustainability performance, especially life-cycle, should be a key decision factor in transport systems design, but is rarely utilized. • Does industry/academia need to help create/promote analysis tools or PRT data? Engage with SUMP Indicators? • Advanced transit systems would typically win sustainability performance metrics in comparison to other systems. Make your case!

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