Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC), (2015). CDTC New Visions Environment and Technology Task Force, White Paper.
Where did/does the author/s work, what else has s/he written about, and what are her/his credentials?
This white paper is developed by a Task Force composed of academic, private and governmental partners who were charged with making policy recommendations to strengthen the New Visions plan.
What are the topics of the text?
Environment and technology including travel demand management, smart growth and land use planning protecting environmental systems, climate smart communities, LED street lighting, automated vehicles, traffic signal technology, ITS technologies, solar powered roadways, performance measure, forecasts.
What are the main arguments of the text?
The white paper reviews strategies, programs and practices outlined in the New Visions plan that will be updated and makes recommendations that have implications to environmental health..
Describe at least three ways that the argument is supported.
The Task Force recommendations include (a) expand the project review process during the transportation improvement plan project selection to include evaluation of the green gas emissions impacts; (b) use GIS data to assess impacts of projects on cultural and natural resources; (c) consider the potential for increased capacity that will result from the use of automated vehicle technologies and avoid expansion of physical capacity that does not consider potential impacts of these technologies; and (d) continue smart and sustainable development patterns.
What three (or more) quotes capture the message of the text?
Environment – Transportation choices must improve the environment, not harm it. (P.3)
Technology – We must plan for new, smarter, better, and rapidly changing transportation technology. (P. 12)
“..the region should continue to develop as an attractive region with vibrant urban and suburban communities that are walkable; ad rural character and open space should continue to be protected..”(P.21)
“use geographic information systems data to overlay limits of candidate TIP projects of project types that have significant environmental impacts against cultural and natural resources mapping…” (P.21)
What three points, details or references from the text did you follow up on to advance your understanding of environmental health governance?
No references – N/A
Reviewer’s comments
Although the white paper explicitly states that this is not a policy making body but is advisory in nature, the Task Force represents a mechanism through which policy making and governance is informed by nongovernmental actors.
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Breathing-life-into-air-quality-3718114.php
CDTC New Visions 2040 report:
http://www.cdtcnewvisions.com/assets/New-Visions-2040-Plan-Sept-3-2015.pdf
The "White Papers" below fed into the report above:
CDTC 2015 White Paper on Environment and Technology: (by Sam on 4/7/2016)
http://www.cdtcnewvisions.com/assets/Environment-Technology-White-Paper-September-2015.pd
Technology – We must plan for new, smarter, better, and rapidly changing transportation technology. (P. 12)
“..the region should continue to develop as an attractive region with vibrant urban and suburban communities that are walkable; ad rural character and open space should continue to be protected..”(P.21)
“use geographic information systems data to overlay limits of candidate TIP projects of project types that have significant environmental impacts against cultural and natural resources mapping…” (P.21)
CDTC 2015 White Paper on Infrastructure:
http://www.cdtcnewvisions.com/assets/Infrastructure-Task-Force-White-Paper-September-2015.pdf