Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. William A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both the Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts and Dr. William A. Wulf are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.

The Transportation Research Board is a division of the National Research Council, which serves the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering. The Board’s mission is to promote innovation and progress in transportation by stimulating and conducting research, facilitating the dissemination of information, and encouraging the implementation of research results. The Board’s varied activities annually engage more than 4,000 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. The program is supported by state transportation departments, federal agencies including the component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individuals interested in the development of transportation. www.TRB.org

www.national-academies.org

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In 1998, as part of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), Congress called for the establishment of an advisory board to recommend a national agenda for environmental research in the domain of surface transportation.¹ Section 5107(c)(1) of TEA-21 states:

To respond to this legislative mandate, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) contracted with the Transportation Research Board (TRB) to create the Surface Transportation Environmental Cooperative Research Program Advisory Board (Advisory Board).² The National Research Council appointed the board members, who collectively have expertise in state and metropolitan transportation planning and policy, travel behavior, transit and highway systems, vehicles and fuels, land use, roadside ecology, air and water quality, facility planning and design, management and organization, and decision making and community participation. The board members also represent a broad spectrum of the transportation and environmental communities,

including academia, state departments of transportation, state environmental protection agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, transit organizations, environmental groups, and industry.

The Advisory Board was formally charged with recommending a national agenda of energy and environmental research for the surface transportation community. During the board’s first meeting, it became apparent that planning processes and methods would have to be a major focus of the board’s work. The Advisory Board therefore agreed to amend its charge to develop a national agenda for environmental and planning research related to surface transportation.

For purposes of this report, surface transportation encompasses only land-based modes of transportation, thereby excluding water-related travel and all associated environmental impacts. Moreover, the Advisory Board followed the lead of the U.S. Congress in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and TEA-21 in using the term surface transportation to refer to the motor vehicle–highway system and public transit systems, along with pedestrian and bicycle facilities and their use. However, many of the board’s findings and recommendations encompass, or could be extended to, other modes and facilities, such as railroads, canals and waterways, and airports. Taken literally, the term surface transportation would encompass all modes, since all modes use the earth’s surface for all or a significant portion of the time. However, surface transportation has become a term of art in the United States during the past decade and is widely understood as used by Congress and the Advisory Board.

During the course of a 2-year period, the Advisory Board held six meetings at which members identified and prioritized research areas. At several of these meetings, the board heard testimony from representatives of federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of the Secretary, FHWA, and the Federal Transit Administration, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. The board also convened a workshop on research priorities, inviting a broad range of experts from the transportation and environment communities to provide their ideas and advice on the highest research priorities. A summary of the workshop findings is contained in Appendix A.

The Advisory Board wishes to acknowledge the contributions of many individuals and organizations to the development of this report. Kris A. Hoellen managed the study and drafted sections of the report under the guidance of

the Advisory Board and the supervision of Stephen R. Godwin, Director of TRB’s Studies and Information Services Division. Cynthia Burbank, Jill Hochman, and Debra Elston served as liaisons and project sponsors from FHWA; all three provided background materials and valuable insights to the Advisory Board.

The board also expresses appreciation to the following individuals for briefing its members on the activities of their respective organizations: John Horsley, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials; Donald Chen, Surface Transportation Policy Project; Alexander Cristofaro, Environmental Protection Agency; and Thomas Gross, Department of Energy.

In addition, the Advisory Board wishes to express gratitude to all those who participated in the workshop on research priorities and to those who took the time to provide written responses to questions posed by the board. Input received during the workshop was invaluable to the board in formulating its research recommendations.

This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National Research Council’s Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making the published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process.

The Advisory Board thanks the following individuals for their review of this report: David G. Burwell, Surface Transportation Policy Project; Aaron Cohen, Health Effects Institute; Robert T. Dunphy, The Urban Land Institute; Gary L. Evink, Florida Department of Transportation (retired); David L. Greene, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Susan Handy, University of Texas at Austin; Susan Hanson, Clark University; Michael D. Meyer, Georgia Institute of Technology; William W. Millar, American Public Transportation Association; and Neil J. Pedersen, Maryland Department of Transportation. Although these reviewers provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the Advisory Board’s findings and conclusions, nor did they see the final draft of this report before its release. Special appreciation is expressed to Michael D. Meyer, who re-reviewed two chapters of this report.

The review of this report was overseen by Lester A. Hoel, University of Virginia. Appointed by the National Research Council, he was responsible for

making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring committee and the institution.

Suzanne Schneider, Associate Executive Director of TRB, managed the report review process. The report was edited and prepared for publication under the supervision of Nancy Ackerman, Director of Reports and Editorial Services. Rona Briere edited the report. Special thanks go to Frances Holland for assistance with meeting arrangements and to Alisa Decatur for production of the final report.