Topic

The environmental concerns in transportation policy

Thesis

The transportation policy has worked towards improving the traveling prospects of all the citizens, but it also results in negative environmental impacts.

Brief Description

Transportation is an important element to the extent that the Supreme Court has recognized the practice (right to travel) among the fundamental rights, which is protected by the Fourteenth Amendment.  This aspect makes policy makers gain an interest when it comes to transportation policy. There are battles from time to time revolving around which transportation projects to undertake, where they are to be located among other issues. Civil rights history shows some evidence on the importance of transportation to the people. Transportation policy enables access to opportunities and places since Americans have become more mobile and increased their reliance on automobiles in order to meet the desired travel needs.

Despite the positive prospects associated with transportation policy, it also culminates to some negative environmental impacts. Varied transportation projects usually result in significant impacts on the environment; some of which are remediable while some are not. Among the environmental impacts, there are biological impacts, urban runoff, air pollution, noise impacts and aesthetic impacts among others. The good thing is that despite the detrimental effects that these impacts cause, there are strategies that can be devised to help mitigate them.

References

Banister, D. & Schwanen, T. (2011). Transportation and the Environment. Annual Review Of Environment And Resources, 36, 247-270.

Oswald Beiler, M. & Mohammed, M. (2016). Exploring transportation equity: Development and application of a transportation justice framework. Transportation Research Part D: Transport And Environment, 47, 285-298.

Schiller, P., Bruun, E., & Kenworthy, J. (2010). An introduction to sustainable transportation: Policy, Planning and Implementation. London: Earthscan.

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