10 Innovative Ideas for Sustainable Transportation Systems

Key Insights

One of the best ways to define a concept is by explaining what it isn't. For a green transportation infrastructure, this becomes clear when we reflect on a common experience many of us have had: sitting idle in a congested car on a crowded highway while our vehicles release harmful emissions and pollution into the air.

It has been repeatedly shown that transportation systems built around automobiles contribute to global warming, pollution, health issues, and energy insecurity. On the other hand, the concept of a green transportation infrastructure revolves around offering people opportunities to move within their communities using their own energy—such as walking or cycling—or through other eco-friendly alternatives like trains or buses. “A truly green infrastructure is one that residents enjoy, offers durable and affordable mobility, and addresses the root causes of our energy crises,” says Ozzie Zehner, a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of the upcoming book "Green Illusions".

Even in situations where it's difficult or unfeasible to completely eliminate cars, there are still ways to make our transportation infrastructure more sustainable while simultaneously improving our health and quality of life. Keep reading to discover a way to enhance what’s already in place.

10. A Boost for Electric Vehicles

While this may not address all the concerns about the environmentally harmful aspects of transportation systems designed around cars, it is true that switching from gas-powered cars to electric ones can significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions. “Our modeling demonstrates a clear reduction in CO2 for every mile our customers drive on electricity,” says Mike Tinskey, Ford Motor Company’s associate director of global electrification infrastructure. “For instance, a driver of a Focus Electric [car] will save approximately 1 ton (.907 metric tons) of CO2 over the course of one year compared to a gasoline-powered equivalent.”

A major challenge in expanding the use of electric vehicles is the limited number of charging stations—similar to having just a few gas stations available today. Tinskey estimates there are currently around 3,000 chargers across the country, but that number is expected to grow fourfold in the next year, thanks in large part to funding from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the stimulus. Another key factor in making electric cars more feasible is that six automakers recently agreed on a universal charging connector, enabling most electric vehicles to be charged much more quickly than before—up to 80 percent in just 10 minutes.

Move to the next page to discover what defines a green highway.

9. Green Highways Partnership

The concept of a 'green highway' is so contentious that the very first question on the official Green Highways Partnership website asks: "Is the term 'Green Highways' an oxymoron?" For individuals like author Ozzie Zehner, the response would likely be yes. He argues, "America's vast automotive network, despite its substantial benefits, also causes significant negative consequences such as smog, CO2 emissions, and fatal accidents."

However, the Green Highways Partnership, initiated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Federal Highway Administration, aims to bring together public and private sectors to improve highways for drivers (i.e., less congestion) while making them more sustainable. Specifically, green highways employ permeable materials in their construction to prevent harmful substances from leaking into watersheds, use recycled materials to reduce landfill waste, and manage invasive species while fostering the health of native ecosystems. The partnership's goal is to achieve these and many more objectives through voluntary, market-driven efforts rather than regulations.

Continue forward to leave the car behind and ascend to greater heights.

8. Pedestrian Bridges

Originally constructed in 1889, the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge in Poughkeepsie, New York, was designed to facilitate trade and transportation, offering a passage for people and goods across the Hudson River, 212 feet (64.62 meters) above the water. After a fire nearly destroyed the structure in 1974, it lay dormant for many years until the group Walkway Over the Hudson worked to transform it. Their successful efforts led to the opening of the Walkway Over the Hudson State Park in 2009, establishing it as the longest pedestrian bridge worldwide, now attracting over a million visitors.

Vincent Press, a representative from Bergman Associates, the design firm responsible for the bridge's renovation, highlights the environmental advantages of such pedestrian bridges. “Pedestrian bridges offer sustainable transportation options, such as walking and biking,” he explains. “For example, the Walkway Over the Hudson links extensive trails along both riverbanks, promoting physical activity and eco-friendly transit.” Additionally, reusing the existing bridge structure, instead of constructing a new one from the ground up, contributed to its sustainability, especially by replacing hazardous materials like lead and asbestos with more environmentally friendly alternatives.

Continue reading to uncover how widespread the use of green building materials has become.

7. Construction Materials Matter

The Brooklyn Bridge Park offers many green features. This 85-acre development, which is partially open, marks the first park built in Brooklyn since Prospect Park over 100 years ago. It replaces an industrial waterfront area filled with piers and warehouses, transforming it into public recreational space with restored wetlands and wildlife habitats. The park also emphasizes the use of recycled local materials. For example, granite from the nearby Roosevelt Avenue Bridge has been repurposed into park steps, stone from the Willis Avenue Bridge in the Bronx has been incorporated for seating and pathways, and steel from old warehouses has been reused in place. This highlights how recycled materials can enhance any green project.

Even when building materials cannot be recycled or reused, there are more sustainable alternatives available today. One notable example is permeable pavers, which are essential in managing stormwater runoff. These pavers allow rainwater to either seep back underground or collect in reservoirs where it can be reused, reducing water waste and preventing pollution in local watersheds.

In a practical example, a Minneapolis community took steps to reduce stormwater runoff by installing approximately 1,100 square feet (102.2 square meters) of permeable pavers, produced by Belgard, as part of an initiative to save 1.5 million gallons of water annually. This effort is part of a broader movement to improve stormwater management practices across residential properties in the watershed.

Keep reading to discover why green infrastructure isn't just about recycled materials.

6. Making the Old New Again

In urban areas like New York City, motivating people to get outside and walk can sometimes require a bit of innovation. In the Meatpacking District, a group of dedicated individuals took an old elevated railway line, which would now be considered part of green infrastructure, and transformed it into the High Line, a nearly 1.5-mile (2.14 km) elevated park on Manhattan's west side. From 1934 to 1980, the railway line was used to transport meat and other agricultural products to factories and warehouses. Today, it serves as a popular public park featuring art installations and urban gardens.

The High Line is not only groundbreaking but may also signal the start of a larger trend. Chicago is already considering a similar project known as the Hydrogenerator, and there has even been a proposal for a floating park on the River Thames in London.

Click forward to learn why greenways are so aptly named.

5. Greenways

The East Coast Greenway is an ambitious and ongoing project aiming to create a seamless network of trails for cyclists and pedestrians stretching from Maine to Florida. Think of it as the Appalachian Trail, but outside the wilderness. Currently, only about one quarter of the greenway is completed, with trails dedicated to non-motorized transportation. Projects like the East Coast Greenway are prime examples of green infrastructure, offering people alternative ways to travel between towns and even states. While not all greenways are as vast as this one, which extends along the entire Eastern Seaboard, they all represent corridors of undeveloped land, often pedestrian-friendly pathways around urban areas.

In Atlanta, a greenway-inspired approach is being employed to develop the BeltLine, a 22-mile (35.41 kilometer) corridor that integrates parks, trails, public transit, along with both commercial and residential spaces. This initiative is part of the city's efforts to improve urban planning, aiming to reduce car-dependent sprawl. Robby Bryant, who collaborated with HDR Engineering on the first 5-acre segment of the BeltLine, highlights how this all-encompassing strategy offers benefits beyond just transportation.

The company partnered with the city and local residents to transform a stormwater retention pond into a key feature of a park along the BeltLine. Rather than relying on traditional sewers and tunnels, Bryant and his team found a way to manage stormwater runoff while creating attractions like a 40-foot (12.19 meter) waterfall. "The main goal of the project was to offer flood protection that exceeded the functional," says Bryant. "The park and pond have become a popular destination, which is a surprising twist for a retention pond."

Flip to the next page to see what happens when bicycles are given their own dedicated space.

4. Bike-friendly Communities

Here's something you don’t hear too often in the U.S.: someone reminiscing fondly about their commute. But that’s exactly how Ozzie Zehner feels when recalling his time at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. During his research there, Zehner, the author of the forthcoming book Green Illusions and a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, enjoyed commuting through the compact city by bike, taking advantage of the network of streets and lanes dedicated solely to bikes and light motorized vehicles. "Who would have thought commuting could be so enjoyable?" Zehner fondly remembers about his time in Amsterdam.

Biking offers much more than fun for cities and towns that prioritize easy and safe biking. According to Zehner, who advocates for bikeways and lanes, creating such infrastructure leads to "cleaner, healthier, quieter, and safer neighborhoods." He argues that despite the larger sprawl of American cities compared to European ones, they are still ideal candidates for biking. "More than a quarter of trips Americans make are under a mile (1.6 kilometers), and over 40 percent are shorter than 2 miles (3.21 kilometers)," he says, pointing out that these are perfect distances for bike travel. If Americans can embrace this idea, it will align us with the rest of the world, where the bicycle reigns as the primary mode of transport, with around 2 billion people using them.

Keep reading to find out how quickly buses can really go.

3. Bus Lanes

Many city dwellers claim an interest in taking the bus to work, but when asked why they don’t, a variety of reasons emerge—convenience being one, and the discomfort of waiting at a bus stop and then enduring a crowded ride as cars pass by is another significant obstacle. However, cities across the globe are striving to tap into the environmental advantages of bus ridership by making buses more appealing. One major approach is the creation of lanes dedicated solely to buses, allowing them to speed past the typical road congestion. Known as bus rapid transit, this concept has been in use for decades in South America, Europe, and is now expanding in North America and Asia.

A study of the 14-mile (22.5 kilometer) Bus Rapid Transit Corridor in Guangzhou, China, the nation's third-largest city, revealed that the system will cut carbon dioxide emissions by 86,000 tons (78,018 metric tons) annually during its first decade. Additionally, research conducted by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy found that Guangzhou’s dedicated bus system will reduce particulate emissions—responsible for respiratory issues—by 4 tons (3.62 metric tons) each year.

Keep reading to discover how combining bus systems with subways can significantly enhance environmental benefits.

2. Subways Are Clean

Certainly, anyone who takes the New York City subway—or many others in different cities—on a daily basis might chuckle (or worse) at the idea that subways are clean. While it's true that some subway cars and buses are in need of cleaning, the bigger picture is that these public transport systems help take countless cars off the road, significantly contributing to a cleaner and greener planet.

In fact, the Sierra Club points out that seven out of the twelve cities with the best ratings for reducing smog-causing vehicle emissions—cities like San Francisco and New York—are located in states that invest heavily in public transportation. Moreover, the Center for Transportation Excellence highlights that subways and buses play a crucial role in tackling respiratory diseases linked to pollution. The center reports that bus and subway ridership prevents the emission of 156 million pounds (70,760 metric tons) of nitrogen oxides, which are a major contributor to respiratory illnesses. This, of course, doesn't even account for the reduction in hydrocarbons that cause smog or carbon dioxide emissions that fuel global warming.

Click ahead to find out why being 'smart' is at the core of most decisions regarding green transportation infrastructure.

1. Smart Growth

Some people argue that considering green transportation infrastructure in isolation is not the best approach. Instead, they believe it’s more effective to design entire communities in a way that naturally encourages greener transportation options. Smart growth embodies this by promoting the development of neighborhoods where homes, shops, jobs, and public transit are all conveniently located together, thus fostering a denser, more sustainable urban environment.

Ozzie Zehner, the author, emphasizes that these environmentally conscious choices are achievable even in areas traditionally built around the car. He points to the successful transformation of big-box stores and parking lots into community assets, such as churches, schools, housing, and mixed-use buildings, all with connected street grids and abundant green spaces for pedestrians. For example, the densely populated Atlanta neighborhood, Atlantic Station, has residents who, on average, only drive 8 miles (12.87 kilometers) daily, compared to the typical 68 miles (109.4 kilometers) driven by workers in the surrounding region.