CRed - The Community Carbon Reduction Project at UNC-Chapel Hill

The looming population growth corresponds to a potentially major increase in the numbers of automobiles on the road, leading to traffic congestion and increases in the amount of pollutants emitted into the atmosphere. Additionally, many residents of the North West development will choose to cycle or walk, which requires its own infrastructure network allowing for safe travel. A sustainable travel infrastructure implemented in the development phase will help meet the carbon dioxide reduction targets.

In the transportation sector, road transport provides the overwhelming majority of pollutant emissions. According to Figure 1, road transport contributes 22% of the United Kingdom's carbon dioxide output, with other transport contributing only 2%. The Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (hotlink to www.defra.gov.uk) (DEFRA) states that carbon dioxide accounts for 96% of greenhouse gas emissions from road transport, greatly contributing to global warming. It is estimated that the North West site represents a potential increase of 10,400 trips from Cambridge residents, of which an estimated 7,400 will be accomplished by car. It is assumed that an average car trip is about 6 miles. At 20 pounds of carbon dioxide per gallon, that corresponds to about 40,760 pounds of carbon dioxide per day from the car trips from those living in the North West Site from those living in the North West site unless alternatives to such trips by low occupancy cars are provided .

Emissions from road transport have increased by a staggering 92% in England due to increased travel per person. Effective tactics to reach the 60% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions could focus on, but are not limited to, improving:

• Increasing the percentage of trips accomplished using public transportation.
• Increasing the percentage of trips accomplished on foot or with bicycles.
• Reducing the average distance of trips by reducing the need for travel to satisfy essential needs.

These goals can be met in a number of ways. One can focus on discouraging personal vehicle use, on improving the efficiency of fuel use (and reducing emissions per mile) in personal vehicles, or on encouraging other modes of transportation that are less polluting when measured on a per-person-mile basis. Alternatively, one may eliminate the need to travel an extended distance by providing most of life's necessities in close proximity to or within the new development. The following policies make up an integral part of a sustainable transportation infrastructure in order to reduce carbon emissions.

1. Increase bus patronage: Lower costs and careful attention to travel demand patterns can help increase utilization of public transportation, resulting in fewer cars to emit pollutants and cause congestion.
2. Encourage walking and cycling: When provided a safe, direct path, people are much more likely to consider walking and cycling as viable methods of transportation.
3. Increase the use of hybrid vehicles: Tax incentives can help increase the use of hybrid vehicles, thus increasing fuel efficiency and decreasing pollutants emitted.
4. Provide local housing for employees: It is estimated that 680 employees living at the North West Site can be employed on location, reducing the total number of car trips to and from work by 1360.
5. Consider mixed-use development: A well-planned area that features more compact, pedestrian and transit-oriented communities with a mix of residential and commercial uses can reduce family travel by 20 to 30 percent.
6. Implement a free bus system: A free bus system implemented in Chapel Hill, NC resulted in a 42% increase in bus patronage the first year. A 50% increase in bus patronage in the Cambridge area is a realistic goal.
7. Utilize cleaner vehicles: Tax incentives and other charges associated with owning a "dirtier" vehicle may encourage residents to purchase cleaner vehicles.
8. Stagger work schedules: Using employee incentives, such as preferential parking, free lunches, and raffles, the magnitude of peak time traffic (7:30-9:30 and 16:30-18:30) is lessened and congestion and carbon dioxide emissions decrease.

For a complete list of policies and explanations, see the 2004 Final Report. Implementing all of the policies discussed in the final report, the carbon dioxide emissions from cars in the North West Site would be at least 60 percent lower than would be the case using current modes of transport typical of Cambridge.