You’re a transportation planner. How do you know if your plans are environmentally sound?

1 Environmental impact assessment

One of the most common and comprehensive tools for evaluating the environmental impact of transportation plans is the environmental impact assessment (EIA). An EIA is a systematic process that identifies, predicts, and evaluates the potential environmental effects of a proposed project, plan, or policy. It also proposes measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate those effects, and monitors their implementation. An EIA usually involves several steps, such as screening, scoping, baseline analysis, impact analysis, mitigation planning, reporting, and public participation. Depending on the scale and complexity of your transportation plan, you may need to conduct a full EIA or a simpler environmental assessment (EA).

2 Environmental indicators

Another useful tool for measuring the environmental impact of transportation plans is the use of environmental indicators. These are quantitative or qualitative measures that reflect the state or change of an environmental aspect, such as air pollution, noise, energy consumption, land use, or biodiversity. Environmental indicators can help you monitor the performance of your transportation plan against specific targets or goals, and compare it with other alternatives or scenarios. For example, you can use indicators such as vehicle miles traveled (VMT), modal split, fuel efficiency, or carbon footprint to assess the impact of your plan on greenhouse gas emissions.

3 Life cycle assessment

A more advanced and holistic tool for evaluating the environmental impact of transportation plans is the life cycle assessment (LCA). An LCA is a method that considers the environmental effects of a product, service, or system throughout its entire life cycle, from extraction of raw materials to disposal or recycling. An LCA can help you account for the environmental costs and benefits of your transportation plan not only during its operation, but also during its construction, maintenance, and decommissioning. For example, you can use an LCA to compare the environmental impacts of different modes of transportation, such as rail, bus, or car, taking into account their infrastructure, vehicles, fuels, and emissions.

4 Environmental justice

A final tool that can help you ensure that your transportation plans are environmentally sound is the concept of environmental justice. Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, income, or education, in the development and implementation of environmental policies and practices. Environmental justice can help you address the potential environmental inequities and disparities that may result from your transportation plan, and ensure that it does not disproportionately affect or exclude any groups or communities. For example, you can use environmental justice to evaluate the distribution of benefits and burdens of your plan, such as access to transportation services, exposure to pollution, or displacement of residents.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?