Transportation's Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...

Transportation’s Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Volume 2
• Research documents prepared for research programs such as the National
Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), Transit Cooperative
Research Program (TCRP), or Transportation Research Board (TRB);
• Government reports and other publications prepared by Federal, state, or
local agencies such as U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE),
or State DOTs;
• Internet sites that are credible sources (such as a government agency or
think-tank) and have data than can be validated; and
• Research reports from private and non-profit organizations, as long as they
appear to be of sound methodology and unbiased.
It is difficult to assert than any source is truly unbiased, since all authors and
research sponsors work from a particular personal or organizational viewpoint.
However, it is important that the methodology used in the source is presented
in a transparent manner, so that any potential biases can be determined and the
results of the analysis appropriately caveated if necessary. The research team
excluded any sources that appear to make unreasonable assumptions or apply
questionable methodologies. Sources which are not peer-reviewed received
particular scrutiny.
A Note on the Moving Cooler Study
A number of the strategies discussed in the system efficiency and travel
behavior chapters cite results from the Moving Cooler study. This study
(Cambridge Systematics, 2009) conducted a comprehensive evaluation of a
broad range of transportation measures that influence greenhouse gas
emissions by reducing the amount of driving, reducing fuel consumption, and
improving the performance of the transportation system. It was intended as a
complement to previous studies, such as the 2007 McKinsey & Company and
Conference Board report, Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: How Much at
What Cost, which primarily focused on technology and fuels strategies in the
transportation sector.
The Moving Cooler study is not the only study to address travel activity and
system efficiency strategies, and other literature is cited in this report as
available. However, it does help to fill a critical knowledge gap and is unique
in its comprehensive and consistent treatment of these strategies. The report
was developed between August 2008 and July 2009 through a collaborative
process that included extensive review by a wide range of stakeholder groups,
including the Environmental Protection Agency, Intelligent Transportation
Society of America, Shell Oil, Urban Land Institute, Federal Transit
Administration, Natural Resources Defense Council, Federal Highway
Administration, American Public Transportation Association, and the
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