Greenhouse gas emissions and the related subject of global climate change is an emerging environmental issue, with the potential to significantly affect transportation agencies. This proposal is a follow-up to NCHRP 25-25, Task 17 – Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Analysis Techniques for Transportation Projects. That study looked at techniques available to transportation agencies to estimate greenhouse gas emissions from transportation activities.

This research was conducted in two parts. Part I focussed on developing a spreadsheet-based tool that allows users to enter information on construction, maintenance and/or operations activities and would provide estimates of greenhouse gas emissions. Using this tool, transportation agencies could take into account their greenhouse gas emissions as part of their day-to-day activities as well as provide information to the public and other stakeholders in examining the effects of transportation projects.  The tool can be found here.

Part II focussed on a synthesis of current research on the cost-effectiveness of different strategies within these activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, identify the gaps in current research, and recommend needed research to more affectively address the cost-effectiveness of these strategies. The final report can be found here.