July/August 2010 Parking - 42

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implement and support transportation systems management conduct ongoing performance measurement and monitoring

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These led to initiatives that seek to optimize the operation and utilization of transportation infrastructure:
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Figure 2. Calming traffic with a sustainable power source in San Jose, CA, USA.

(DOT) officials to use serves as a good example of how staff can evaluate, apply credits and rate transportation projects based on sustainability practices. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 9, based in San Francisco, is looking to form a partnership between public agencies in western states and industry leaders to formalize construction practices for sustainable transportation infrastructure. San Jose reconstructed an entire city block, calling it the Green Mobility Showcase Project, installing such features as programmable LED roadway lighting, curbside public electric car charging stations, solar pay stations for parking, enhanced drainage facilities and low-cement content concrete sidewalks. The substantial use of fly ash and slag in place of cement resulted in an equally strong concrete sidewalk, at no additional cost; yet it produced a savings of 10 tons of CO2 emissions alone from utilizing less cement. Washington State’s DOT sustainability plan serves as a strategic tool to develop and measure progress on the use of more sustainable construction, maintenance and fleet practices in that organization. The examples above illustrate good leadership and strong collaboration between public and private partners to expand the use of sustainable construction practices in transportation.

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Integrating signals across a network and enhancing systems to permit adaptive signal control can provide significant benefits by facilitating better traffic progression and thereby reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from vehicles. Implementation of parking authorities. Parking authorities can manage the parking system for a municipality (generally in the core commercial areas), addressing supply and fees. Parking management can be a highly effective tool for managing travel demands. Consideration of road user fees. The success of congestion management fees in London, England; Stockholm, Sweden; and other cities demonstrate the benefits of these fees with respect to minimizing GHG emissions, supporting transit use and facilitating progression of transit and other essential vehicular trips. Dedicated lanes for certain classes of vehicles (transit, trucks, taxis, high occupancy vehicles), either full or part time.

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Operational initiatives can reduce impacts on the natural environment from transportation systems as well. These include the operations of transportation agencies in terms of initiatives such as:
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Operating Our Systems
There are also opportunities for enhanced sustainability in the operation of transportation systems. The York Region TMP discussed earlier is a good example of how sustainability principles can be translated into action regarding operations. Three relevant principles are to:
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Reducing use of chemicals such as salt for winter maintenance. The Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) has published a Synthesis of Best Practices for Salt Management (www.tac-atc.ca) that has now been widely implemented across Canada. Use of hybrid, alternative fuel and/or electric vehicles for agency functions. This initiative is already widespread across North America. Figure 2 shows an innovative example from San Jose, demonstrating a partnership between the city and the school

implement and support transportation demand management

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National Parking Association PARKING July/August 2010
July/August 2010 Parking

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July/August 2010 Parking
