TRB - Division A (A): Planning and Environment Group (D): Social, Economic, and Cultural Issues (D): Transportation and Sustainability (40)

Committee on Transportation and Sustainability (ADD40)

Committee Agendas and Minutes: 7/10/2006 Minutes

Transportation and Sustainability Committee (ADD40)

MINUTES OF TRANSPORTATION AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING
La Jolla, CA
12:00 – 1:45 PM, 10 July 2006

Introductions

Dan Sperling opened the meeting with introductions. Dan explained that this is a new committee that evolved from a task force. He said that the mission of this committee is integrative with respect to sustainability throughout TRB. What exactly that means is still being determined. He said that the subcommittee on indicators led by Todd Litman is an integral part of the committee activities.  David Burwell said that cross disciplinary research is an important defining attribute of this committee. Ilona Kastenhofer of VDOT Research had asked about the focus of the committee and said that her view is that almost every aspect of transportation has reached an unsustainable point; a new viewpoint is needed, not just reaction to what has happened.

Dan emphasized that the success of this committee depends on the contributions and initiative of its members and friends. One possibility is that the committee serve as a clearinghouse of information. This activity will be further explored at the January meeting. The committee web site will be set up to take further inputs from members.

Lori Kennedy, Section Chair, listed the four items that came up in the sections meeting. One of them, which Mark Norman elaborated upon, was the TRB budget. There is a budget gap in excess of one million dollars.  As a result, TRB will cut publications, travel (which applies to section heads and committee chairs), not fill positions that become open, and will allow limited commercial exhibits at meetings. Some chairs had suggested cutting down on hard copies of publications, and going electronic. A second item was the TRB strategic plan: there will be a top down review of the strategic plan, with the aim of bringing all committees and sections in line with it. The theme for the 2007 meeting will be transportation institutions, finance, and the work force. Papers and sessions should be related to that and the list of critical issues identified by TRB. The last item addressed research statements; TRB noted that there is no overall database for the statements that don’t get funded. They are developing a database, so committees should coordinate with Martine Micozzi on getting important proposals into that.

Burr Stewart said that there was an effort by aviation to have a sustainability subcommittee. After some discussion, Burr proposed that it become a joint subcommittee with this committee. David Burwell suggested that Burr should be liaison with them, but to keep in mind what sustainability means in the context of this committee. It should not just address finance, for example. Dan said that the committee does want to coordinate and promote activities that relate to the economic, environmental, and possibly social dimensions of the larger issue. Burr should describe the intent in a half a page and see if there is some interest in one or two members of the aviation group coming to our committee meeting in January.

Some general discussion followed.

• George Smith of Caltrans asked about a definition of sustainability. He also asked what transportation sustainability means. Is it dependent? Dan suggested a discussion on this topic after the business meeting. He noted that a broad definition that addresses the three “E’s” (economics, environment, and equity) is the current focus.
• Matt Hanson asked if there was a primer on sustainability? David suggested that a reading list could be put on the web site, but that the strategic plan should address what this committee would do. Matt Hanson, Joanne Potter, and Ilona Kastenhofer volunteered to join the group working on the strategic plan.
• Burr said that the NGOs are driving the sustainability debate, not the government organizations. So the NGOs need to be involved at the table and in these sessions. They need to be part of the discussions and the sessions on institutions. The NGOs will provide the leadership for how to go forward since they are funded by donations, not taxes.

An extended discussion ensued about possible session topics at the January meeting, as summarized below

• Matt Hanson of Caltrans said that some aspects of his goods movement research is sustainability. He mentioned two concepts: integrative corridors and possible new technology to move containers out of the San Pedro ports. Dan suggested that directing these concepts to some of the committees with a direct focus on goods movement would be appropriate. Allen Greenberg of FHWA said that there was a session on asset management that could incorporate some innovative concepts. David agreed with that, saying that a broad focus is more typical in Europe.
• With respect to fuel price, Lori explained that TRB is sponsoring a cross-cutting session on it and wants to find different points of view on this issue. Art Guzzetti of APTA said that there were, of course, equity issues, impacts on transit, and the like. Lori said although fuel price is a cross cutting issue, only part of it would be sustainable related. Dan said that fuel prices and taxes are central to the issue of sustainability, so he thought that the committee should have a role in the session. The angle would be looking a fuel prices through a sustainability lens. Ilona Kastenhofer said that we assume that the level of demand will grow as it has previously with the low prices, needing more and more infrastructure. She suggests that we need to look at it differently and make a case for a different approach. The other side could take the opposite point of view to create a debate.
• Lori mentioned that there was another proposed cross-cutting session that might have subtopics more appealing to this committee: sustainable financing of transportation infrastructure. This session is still tentative. Allen Greenberg of FHWA said that finance itself does not rise to the level of sustainability. David said that funding transportation from a non-renewal resource was in itself unsustainable and the issue could be interesting. Some discussion ensued between David Burwell, Art, and Veronica Murphy of NJDOT.  It was observed that the views inside and outside the transportation industry has been completely different, depending on how the funds were being used, i.e., for only highways or more transport more broadly. session. David said he thought it was fascinating that capitalism has now come to transportation with pricing, etc. For example, if one gives away a piece of the system for 99 years, how does one manage a system? Art said that currently that point of view is not coming up in the finance sessions. Veronica Murphy of NJDOT said that she thought that the issue has been recognized, but no one knows what to do about it. David pointed out that in the Chicago and Indiana franchise deals, the views within and without the transportation industry has been completely different, depending on how the funds were being used, i.e., non-transport in Chicago, all highway in Indiana. Marcy said that the committee should choose a speaker for the (free) TRB finance session. Dan said that David Burwell is the point person on that.
• Dan asked if anyone were interested in the international perspectives session on sustainability. This would involve lining up speakers via email. Adjo Amekudzi of Georgia Tech suggested that there should be someone from Africa. She is to email Dan very soon with a suggestion. Tony May of UK, who could not attend but had attended the January 2006 committee meeting, is taking the lead. David Burwell said that pricing and equity for poor people are at odds. Joanne suggested including collaborative decision making, e.g., NGOs and government organizations, as is done around the world. George Smith said that another issue how to make sure the longer term consequences of decisions are included the framework of political decision makers, who tend to be short term.
• Dan asked for other thoughts on sessions. Art asked about including climate change. Gui Shearin explained the initial focus of the committee on climate change. David said that a book from the Asilomar conference is coming out next month on climate change and transportation. Adjo asked about bringing in liaisons with other committees. Burr suggested that we do a second session on greenhouse gases, something like “emerging strategies for addressing green house gases.” Burr also mentioned an initiative from the Canadian trucking association. Joanne mentioned that that there is a TRB special panel on impacts of and adaptation to climate change. Ann Humphreys is the staff person on that. Art asked who could speak on the Asilomar book? Dan asked for a focus. Joanne suggested looking at private sector initiatives, per the Canadian trucking association initiative. David thought that this was a good idea, e.g., GE (or Dupont) buying credits for their greenhouse gas emissions? David mentioned that there are questions here: do you include the supply chain, employee commutes to work. Studies by Roger Shapiro and others have shown how transit saves energy and hence carbon. This should be done jointly with the energy committee, so Dan will follow up with the energy committee on this. Those with any additional thoughts should contact Dan. Burr said that the aviation subcommittee would be interested; Burr is to send information to Dan on how they would join in.
• George Smith asked if it were too late to put forth a session on rural sustainability. Dan suggested that this one be deferred.

Martine said that the deadlines are August 1 for submitting papers, with reviews done by September 15. Paper sessions have to be defined between September 15 and October 1. There are a total of 2.3 sessions allotted to each committee.

The meeting adjourned at 2 PM.

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