Sustainability refers to the long-term economic, environmental, and social performance of a given project or program that prevents degradation of natural resources, and social and economic conditions. Anticipating the effects of an activity on the environment is a critical aspect of evaluating sustainability, and changing environmental conditions can significantly affect the likely sustainability of projects.

The U.S. DOT Volpe Center works with multiple sponsors to develop sustainability initiatives ranging from the strategic planning level, down to the details of establishing recycling programs. The U.S. DOT Volpe Center has developed pollinator gardens, evaluated ecosystem services, considered tradeoffs among sustainability goals, and assisted agencies with compliance with reporting requirements, regulatory requirements, and directives.

Research and Reports

• Addressing Transportation’s Impact: A Starter Guide to Reducing Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions 
  Governments have an important role to play in achieving deep GHG emission reductions and building resilience to the impacts of climate change. This Toolkit explores the transportation sector’s contributions to climate change and discusses options for governments to innovate with policies that reduce GHG emissions from transportation  
• Building Resilient Infrastructure: How to Create Strong and Adaptable Transportation Systems 
  This Toolkit explores how climate change affects transportation infrastructure. It provides information about how governments can assess the vulnerability of their transportation infrastructure and systems to the impacts of climate change, and identify and implement adaptation strategies to make their transportation system more resilient to climate change impacts 
• Carbon Reduction Program 
• Eco-Logical: An Ecosystem Approach to Developing Infrastructure Projects
  Presents interagency guide to making infrastructure more sensitive to wildlife and ecosystems through greater interagency cooperative conservation
• Charging Forward: A Toolkit for Planning and Funding Rural Electric Mobility Infrastructure 
  The Rural EV Toolkit is a one-stop resource to help rural communities scope, plan, and identify ways to fund EV-charging infrastructure 
• Charging Forward: A Toolkit for Planning and Funding Urban Electric Mobility Infrastructure  
  The Urban Electric Mobility Toolkit serves as a one-stop resource to help urban communities scope, plan, and identify ways to fund electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, supporting diverse forms of electric mobility including travel by personal vehicle, transit, micro-mobility (e.g., electric bicycles and scooters), and ride-sharing services
• Connecting Transportation Planning and the Environment 
  Technical assistance and outreach materials to help transportation agencies introduce environmental considerations early in planning and to use documented planning information to inform the environmental review process 
• Eco-Logical: An Ecosystem Approach to Developing Infrastructure Projects 
  Interagency guide to making infrastructure more sensitive to wildlife and ecosystems through greater interagency cooperative conservation 
• EERPAT: Strategic Planning for GHG Emissions at Statewide Areas 
• Global Approaches to Addressing Biofuel-related Invasive Species Risks and Incorporation into U.S. Laws and Policies 
  Review of ecological and biological indicators of invasive species risk and how highly sought characteristics in proposed biofuel feedstock species may lead to invasion, review of existing weed risk assessment tools, and evaluation of invasive species risk management elements of existing bioenergy laws and policies  
• INVEST (FHWA Infrastructure Voluntary Evaluation Sustainability Tool) 
  Web-based sustainability self-assessment tool that transportation agencies can use to evaluate the sustainability of their projects and plans 
• Multifamily housing charging study  
  Joint Office leadership briefings based on synthesizing use cases and solution types for providing reliable and equitable electric mobility charging access to MFH residents 
• North Cascades Long-Term Access and Resilience Strategy 
• NYC Clean Fleet Transition Plan 
  Report analyzing the nearly 29,500 fleet units in the NYC Fleet, their use cases, and the anticipated market options and time horizons for transitioning each of the vehicle types to electric 
• Sustainable Rest Area Design and Operations 
• U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization and Sectoral Action Plans 
  The U.S. DOT Volpe Center supported the development of the National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization which provides a framework and strategies for reaching net zero transportation greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and interim targets by 2030. We will continue supporting the sectoral action plans, addenda to the blueprint, to provide more specificity on how DOE, EPA, HUD, and DOT will implement the three Blueprint strategies of Convenience, Efficiency, and Clean. 
• VisionEval: Open-Source Strategic Planning Model Framework 
  A data science toolkit for public agency planners to assess a large number of possible future scenarios, focused on estimating policy impacts of greenhouse gas emissions from transportation at a metropolitan area or state-wide level 
• Technical and Programmatic Support for FHWA's Alternative Fuel Corridor Designation Program 
  The U.S. DOT Volpe Center provides technical and programmatic support to FHWA from a multi-disciplinary team to help implementation of the designation national EV charging, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling corridors, and related alternative fuels activities and initiatives 
• Technical and Programmatic Support for the Joint Office of Energy & Transportation 
  The U.S. DOT Volpe Center supports the Joint Office by providing knowledgeable and experienced technical and/or programmatic support for implementation of the BIL’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program and the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Programs and other specific BIL required activities, such as the EV Working Group, cybersecurity activities/projects and technical assistance for the deployment of electric school and transit buses supporting EPA and FTA funding programs 
• Technical and Programmatic Support for the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office and Technology Integration/Clean Cities Program 
  The U.S. DOT Volpe Center provides technical and programmatic support for interagency collaborations/initiatives between DOE and DOT associated with related to the deployment of alternative fuels vehicles, charging and other alternative fueling infrastructure, energy efficient mobility systems, advance vehicle technologies, and other emerging transportation technologies 
• Costs and Benefits of Global Aviation CO2 Requirements
  Models costs and benefits of CO2 reduction that could be gained through a now-implemented aviation CO2 stringency.
• Aviation Environmental Trends to 2050
  Analyzes estimated fuel burn, emissions, and noise associated with aviation under a business as usual scenario and a range of improvement scenarios addressing operational and technological improvements as well as alternative jet fuel use to reduce fuel burn and emissions.
• Global Transport Emissions Compendium and Dashboard
  Identifies key climate mitigation commitments, strategies, and trends in the transport sector for more than 50 countries across the globe; includes analysis of progress toward achieving transport-specific climate change targets articulated by some Paris Agreement signatories.