Abstract :
Summary form only given. I believe the goal of sustainable transportation is to “meet the transportation needs of the present and pass on a better world to our grandchildren.” Today there are two constraints which will shape how that goal can be achieved: climate change and government debt. If I gave this talk two years ago the main challenges would have been how to change the transportation system and energy consumption in order to do our part to stop the rise in temperatures by 2050, and stabilize the Global climate. The added constraint today is the load of debt facing governments in every part of the world, which has been exacerbated by the economic downturn of the last three years. We need to find ways to fund, 1st the preservation and modernization of the transportation systems built over the last century so they last for at least another 100 years; and 2nd, build the new capacity needed to meet the needs of a growing population. The challenge is to find ways to fund both of these investments in a way that leaves our grandchildren with the legacy of a modern, efficient transportation system, rather than to bury them in debt. In my view, we must fund the investment needed over the next 20 years through user fees including gas taxes, vehicle miles traveled charges, tolls and pricing, so that we leave our grandchildren with a system that is self-sustaining. Fundamental to achieving success in both of these areas will be the role of advanced transportation technologies.
