| Abstract |
The EPA report, Potential Changes in Emissions Due to Improvements in Travel Efficiency Final Report, analyzed the impacts of combinations of travel demand management, land use, transit, and road pricing strategies on trip making, vehicle miles traveled (VMT), and vehicle emissions using the Travel Efficiency Assessment Method (TEAM). The analysis demonstrated potential reductions in vehicle trips and trip lengths, shifting of trips from peak to off-peak periods, and travelers shift from single occupancy vehicles to transit, ridesharing, and non-motorized modes. The analysis was done for urban areas; hence, the reductions in VMT and emissions represent those occurring from changes in urban travel activity. Data collected for the previous study was obtained from urban areas and the strategies analyzed are also most applicable in urban areas facing issues such as peak period congestion and associated air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Rural areas are not expected to be affected by these strategies. A primary benefit of the changes in travel activity occurring from the analyzed strategies is a reduction in emissions due to reduced travel and reduced congestion, but there are several other ancillary benefits. In this supplemental report, these ancillary benefits are referred to as co-benefits because they are additional to the emissions benefits resulting from the implementation of the travel efficiency strategies or combinations of strategies (referred to as scenarios) described in the EPA report. |
