Benjamin Eskin | Cambridge Systematics, Inc.

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Presentation Description

The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 created a new Carbon Reduction Program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). As part of this program, every state DOT was required to develop and submit a Carbon Reduction Strategy by November 2023 describing how program funds would be spent and how they would reduce emissions. Many DOTs also used the strategy as an opportunity to more broadly explore forecasted transportation emissions and projected benefits of emission reduction strategies and projects. To support these efforts, it became clear from discussions with DOTs that quick-response tools were needed to characterize potential emissions benefits and cost-effectiveness of projects and strategies with the limited data that is typically available at the time of transportation project selection and programming. Building on years of analytical work with the Georgetown Climate Center and transportation agency officials in other jurisdictions, the authors developed a spreadsheet prototype of such a tool for the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans). With the support of the Georgetown Climate Center, the authors have subsequently developed this into a web-based tool, known as the Transportation Evaluation And Carbon Reduction Tool (TEA-CART), that will be made available for nationwide use. This presentation describes how the prototype tool was used to develop a baseline forecast and scenarios of transportation greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Vermont, and to evaluate the emissions impact of VTrans’ capital program including transit, active transportation, traffic flow improvements, micromobility, and electrification. Additional strategies needed to meet the state’s aggressive GHG emission reduction requirements, including land use and zero-emission vehicle programs, were also evaluated. The tool includes cost information and provides estimates of the relative cost-effectiveness of each strategy as well as the overall magnitude of emission reductions. It also accounts for induced travel effects related to capacity and operational improvements. To allow for customization and sensitivity-testing, numerous assumptions are user-modifiable. The Vermont analysis found that while capital investments can make a modest impact on emissions, the large majority of emission reductions will come from policies and programs outside a transportation agency’s direct authority. The results indicate the severe challenges of reducing carbon emissions through a transportation capital program alone, and the need to pursue additional polices, collaborate across sectors and even across state boundaries to achieve deep cuts in emissions.

Speaker Biography

Ben Eskin is an associate at Cambridge Systematics with expertise in greenhouse gas analysis, transportation planning, project prioritization, and sustainability. Mr. Eskin has several years of experience in greenhouse gas estimation, working with clients ranging from state DOTs to counties and transit agencies on carbon reduction planning and air quality analysis. Outside of his work in greenhouse gas estimation, Mr. Eskin has worked closely with clients on project prioritization and multimodal transportation planning, with projects ranging from curbside analyses to Complete Streets policy updates and bus lane enforcement studies. Prior to his time at Cambridge Systematics, Mr. Eskin spent four years at ICF International working on federal climate change and sustainability programs. Mr. Eskin received a Masters of City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Environmental Studies from Macalester College.

Co-presenters

James Bradbury
Georgetown Climate Center

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