News Tagged: Emissions
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Report: Driving less won’t hurt the economy
With various governments encouraging people to drive less, economists have wondered if such goals can have the side effect of harming the economy. In most cases, the answer is no, OTREC researcher B. Starr McMullen concluded in a research report.
- Click here to read more about the research and to download the report.
It’s more than an academic question: driving and the economy do tend to rise and fall together. McMullen, a transportation economics professor at Oregon State University, examined the relationship between the two by looking at which happens first—a change in driving or a change in economic activity.
In general, economic growth leads to more driving, not the other way around, McMullen said. That’s particularly true for metropolitan areas, the very places most likely to pursue policies that reduce driving.
“The more economic activity you have, the more VMT [vehicle miles traveled] you’re going to have,” McMullen said.
On the other hand, if there are policies to reduce VMT and driving decreases, “you’re not going to have the economy fall apart," as some have suggested.
If a state sets a goal to reduce VMT or transportation emissions, it is reasonable to expect big urban areas to enact policies first, as they have the most emissions and the worst congestion. “The place it’s most obvious to do it is the metropolitan level,” McMullen said. “This is where the debate is right now and where a lot of (transportation) policy is made.”
Tags: derived demand, economic activity, emissions, granger causality, greenhouse gases, starr mcmullen, transportation policy, vehicle miles traveled, vmt
Dr. Figliozzi Selected to lead development of truck efficiency report
Miguel Figliozzi, OTREC researcher, has been selected to chair a study group that will assist DEQ in developing a report, including recommendations for legislation regarding truck efficiency, reduced idling, and emissions. This report will be submitted to interim environment and natural resource committees of the Oregon Legislature by October 2010 for their consideration and any possible action during the 2011 legislative session. The 2009 Oregon Legislature adopted House Bill 2186, which directed DEQ to study potential requirements regarding the maintenance or retrofitting of medium- and heavy-duty trucks in order to reduce aerodynamic drag and otherwise reduce greenhouse gas emissions. DEQ also plans to study potential restrictions on engine use by parked commercial vehicles, including but not limited to medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Study group members will work with DEQ staff to report findings and recommendations for legislation to the interim legislative committees on environment and natural resources by October 1, 2010.
Tags: deq, emissions, freight, miguel figliozzi, trucks
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