Measuring Environmental Performance at State Transportation Agencies

Abstract

Measuring environmental performance presents a new set of challenges for state transportation agencies, many of which have been using measures for years to track transportation-related characteristics of the system. Challenges associated with environmental performance measures and the roles of performance measurement in the environmental area were reviewed, highlighting the key role of stakeholder satisfaction. Some of the attempts to measure environmental performance at state transportation agencies around the country, the different areas of focus, and actual environmental performance measures in use were examined.

Transferring Innovative Erosion and Sediment Control Research Results into Industry Practice

“…With the need for environmental stewardship becoming of upmost importance, DOT agencies across the country are embracing initiatives to promote and strengthen their environmental ethical responsibilities [23]. ALDOT's environmental vision is for environmental responsibility to be an integrated culture of environmental consideration, stewardship, and advancement, which cultivates trust, enhancement, preservation, and compliance.…”

“…Figure 7a,b depict the installed practices along an active ALDOT construction project in Centreville, Alabama [24]. State transportation agencies that have embraced "environmental stewardship" have recognized the importance of the stakeholder community, which can help dictate whether public opinion and media review of a project are favorable and whether transportation objectives can be achieved [23]. The work at AU-ESCTF is helping ALDOT achieve its regulatory requirements, and it is also evidence of action toward ALDOT's environmental goal and mantra of "Getting Better Every Day".…”