You're looking to minimize your environmental impact. What transportation planning tools should you use?

2 Travel Demand Management

Another tool that can help you minimize your environmental impact is travel demand management (TDM), which refers to a set of strategies that aim to reduce the demand for single-occupancy vehicle trips and encourage more efficient and sustainable modes of travel. TDM strategies can include incentives, such as discounts or rewards for using transit, carpooling, or telecommuting; disincentives, such as congestion pricing or parking fees; information and education, such as providing real-time travel information, trip planning tools, or awareness campaigns; and infrastructure and services, such as providing bike racks, shuttle buses, or car-sharing options. By implementing TDM strategies, you can reduce traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and energy consumption.

3 Land Use and Transportation Integration

A third tool that can help you minimize your environmental impact is land use and transportation integration, which means coordinating the planning and development of land use and transportation systems to support compact, mixed-use, and walkable communities. Land use and transportation integration can help you create more accessible and livable places, where people can meet their daily needs within a short distance and have more options to travel by walking, biking, or taking transit. By integrating land use and transportation, you can reduce the need for long-distance and car-dependent trips, and thus lower the environmental costs of transportation.

4 Scenario Planning

A fourth tool that can help you minimize your environmental impact is scenario planning, which is a method of exploring and comparing different possible futures based on different assumptions and drivers of change. Scenario planning can help you envision how your transportation system might evolve under different conditions, such as population growth, technological innovation, climate change, or policy interventions. By using scenario planning, you can assess the risks and opportunities of different scenarios, and identify the actions and investments that can help you achieve your desired outcomes and avoid undesirable ones.

5 Performance Measurement and Monitoring

A fifth tool that can help you minimize your environmental impact is performance measurement and monitoring, which is the process of collecting, analyzing, and reporting data on the performance of your transportation system and the progress of your goals and objectives. Performance measurement and monitoring can help you track and evaluate the environmental impacts of your transportation system, such as the emissions, energy use, noise, and water quality. By using performance measurement and monitoring, you can identify the strengths and weaknesses of your transportation system, and adjust your policies and projects accordingly.

6 Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

A sixth tool that can help you minimize your environmental impact is stakeholder engagement and communication, which is the process of involving and informing the people and organizations that are affected by or interested in your transportation system and its planning. Stakeholder engagement and communication can help you gain valuable insights, feedback, and support from your stakeholders, such as the public, businesses, agencies, and NGOs. By engaging and communicating with your stakeholders, you can increase the awareness and understanding of the environmental issues and challenges of your transportation system, and foster collaboration and cooperation among different actors.

7 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?