National Academies Press: OpenBook
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
×

Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads

Committee on Ecological Impacts of Road Density

Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology

Division on Earth and Life Studies

Transportation Research Board

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, D.C.
www.nap.edu

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
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NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This project was supported by Contract No. DTFH61-01-C-00036 between the National Academy of Sciences and the Department of Transportation. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the organizations or agencies that provided support for this project.

Cover design by Liza R. Hamilton, National Research Council. Front photo by Anthony P. Clevenger, Montana State University. Back photos used with permission from Lance H. Gunderson, Emory University (double yellow line), Emory University Facilities Management (campus), and USGS (southeastern United States).

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Wm. A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Wm. A. Wulf are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.

www.national-academies.org

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
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COMMITTEE ON ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF ROAD DENSITY

Members

LANCE H. GUNDERSON (Chair),

Emory University, Atlanta, GA

ANTHONY P. CLEVENGER,

Western Transportation Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman

ADRIENNE T. COOPER,

Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

VIRGINIA H. DALE,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN

LEONARD EVANS,

Science Serving Society, Bloomfield Hills, MI

GARY L. EVINK,

Florida Department of Transportation (Retired), Tallahassee

LENORE FAHRIG,

Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

KINGSLEY E. HAYNES,

George Mason University, Fairfax, VA

WAYNE W. KOBER,

Transportation and Environmental Consulting, Dillsburg, PA

STEPHEN B. LESTER,

Urban Engineers, Inc., Philadelphia, PA

KENT H. REDFORD,

Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY

MARGARET N. STRAND,

Venable, LLP, Washington, DC

PAUL WAGNER,

Washington State Department of Transportation, Olympia

J.M. (MAC) YOWELL,

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (Retired), Frankfort

Staff

SUZANNE VAN DRUNICK, Project Director

DAVID POLICANSKY, Scholar

RUTH CROSSGROVE, Senior Editor

MIRSADA KARALIC-LONCAREVIC, Research Associate

BRYAN P. SHIPLEY, Research Associate

JOHN BROWN, Program Associate

LIZA R. HAMILTON, Senior Program Assistant

ALEXANDRA STUPPLE, Senior Editorial Assistant

SAMMY BARDLEY, Librarian

Sponsor

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
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BOARD ON ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND TOXICOLOGY

Members

JONATHAN M. SAMET (Chair),

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

RAMÓN ALVAREZ,

Environmental Defense, Austin, TX

JOHN M. BALBUS,

Environmental Defense, Washington, DC

THOMAS BURKE,

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

DALLAS BURTRAW,

Resources for the Future, Washington, DC

JAMES S. BUS,

Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI

COSTEL D. DENSON,

University of Delaware, Newark

E. DONALD ELLIOTT,

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Washington, DC

J. PAUL GILMAN,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN

SHERRI W. GOODMAN,

Center for Naval Analyses, Alexandria, VA

JUDITH A. GRAHAM,

American Chemistry Council, Arlington, VA

DANIEL S. GREENBAUM,

Health Effects Institute, Cambridge, MA

WILLIAM P. HORN,

Birch, Horton, Bittner and Cherot, Washington, DC

ROBERT HUGGETT,

Michigan State University (emeritus), East Lansing

JAMES H. JOHNSON JR.,

Howard University, Washington, DC

JUDITH L. MEYER,

University of Georgia, Athens

PATRICK Y. O’BRIEN,

ChevronTexaco Energy Technology Company, Richmond, CA

DOROTHY E. PATTON,

International Life Sciences Institute, Washington, DC

STEWARD T.A. PICKETT,

Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY

DANNY D. REIBLE,

University of Texas, Austin

JOSEPH V. RODRICKS,

ENVIRON International Corporation, Arlington, VA

ARMISTEAD G. RUSSELL,

Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta

ROBERT F. SAWYER,

University of California, Berkeley

LISA SPEER,

Natural Resources Defense Council, New York, NY

KIMBERLY M. THOMPSON,

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

MONICA G. TURNER,

University of Wisconsin, Madison

MARK J. UTELL,

University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

CHRIS G. WHIPPLE,

ENVIRON International Corporation, Emeryville, CA

LAUREN ZEISE,

California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland

Senior Staff

JAMES J. REISA, Director

DAVID J. POLICANSKY, Scholar

RAYMOND A. WASSEL, Senior Program Officer for Environmental Sciences and Engineering

KULBIR BAKSHI, Senior Program Officer for Toxicology

EILEEN N. ABT, Senior Program Officer for Risk Analysis

K. JOHN HOLMES, Senior Program Officer

SUSAN N.J. MARTEL, Senior Program Officer

SUZANNE VAN DRUNICK, Senior Program Officer

ELLEN K. MANTUS, Senior Program Officer

RUTH E. CROSSGROVE, Senior Editor

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
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TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD 2005 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE1

JOHN R. NJORD (Chair),

Utah Department of Transportation, Salt Lake City

MICHAEL D. MEYER (Vice Chair),

Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta

ROBERT E. SKINNER (Executive Director),

Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC

MICHAEL W. BEHRENS,

Texas Department of Transportation, Austin

ALLEN D. BIEHLER,

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Harrisburg

LARRY L. BROWN,

Mississippi Department of Transportation, Jackson

DEBORAH H. BUTLER,

Norfolk Southern Corporation and Subsidiaries, Atlanta, GA

ANNE P. CANBY,

Surface Transportation Policy Project, Washington, DC

JOHN L. CRAIG,

Nebraska Department of Roads, Lincoln

DOUGLAS G. DUNCAN,

FedEx Freight, Memphis, TN

NICHOLAS J. GARBER,

University of Virginia, Charlottesville

ANGELA GITTENS,

HNTB Corporation, Miami, FL

GENEVIEVE GIULIANO (Past Chair, 2003),

University of Southern California, Los Angeles

BERNARD S. GROSECLOSE, JR.,

South Carolina State Ports Authority, Charleston

SUSAN HANSON,

Clark University, Worcester, MA

JAMES R. HERTWIG,

CSX Intermodal, Jacksonville, FL

GLORIA J. JEFF,

Michigan Department of Transportation, Lansing

ADIB K. KANAFANI,

University of California, Berkeley

HERBERT S. LEVINSON,

Herbert S. Levinson Transportation Consultant, New Haven, CT

SUE MCNEIL,

University of Delaware, Newark

MICHAEL MORRIS,

North Central Texas Council of Governments, Arlington

CAROL A. MURRAY,

New Hampshire Department of Transportation, Concord

MICHAEL S. TOWNES (Past Chair, 2004),

Hampton Roads Transit, VA

C. MICHAEL WALTON,

University of Texas, Austin

LINDA S. WATSON,

LYNX–Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, Orlando

MARION C. BLAKEY (ex officio),

Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC

JOSEPH H. BOARDMAN (ex officio),

Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC

REBECCA M. BREWSTER (ex officio),

American Transportation Research Institute, Smyrna, GA

GEORGE BUGLIARELLO (ex officio),

Polytechnic University, Brooklyn, NY;

Foreign Secretary,

National Academy of Engineering, Washington, DC

J. RICHARD CAPKA (ex officio),

Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC

THOMAS H. COLLINS (ex officio),

Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, Washington, DC

JAMES J. EBERHARDT (ex officio),

U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC

JACQUELINE GLASSMAN, (ex officio),

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC

EDWARD R. HAMBERGER (ex officio),

Association of American Railroads, Washington, DC

1  

As of March 2005.

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
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DAVID B. HORNER (ex officio),

Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC

JOHN C. HORSLEY (ex officio),

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Washington, DC

JOHN E. JAMIAN (ex officio),

Maritime Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC

EDWARD JOHNSON (ex officio),

Applied Science Directorate, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, John C. Stennis Space Center, MS

ASHOK G. KAVEESHWAR (ex officio),

Research and Innovative Technology Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC

BRIGHAM MCCOWN (ex officio),

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington DC

WILLIAM W. MILLAR (ex officio) (Past Chair, 1992),

American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC

SUZANNE RUDZINSKI (ex officio),

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC

ANNETTE M. SANDBERG (ex officio),

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC

JEFFREY N. SHANE (ex officio),

U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC

CARL A. STROCK (ex officio),

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
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OTHER REPORTS OF THE BOARD ON ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND TOXICOLOGY

Superfund and Mining Megasites—Lessons from the Coeur d’Alene River Basin (2005)

Health Implications of Perchlorate Ingestion (2005)

Air Quality Management in the United States (2004)

Endangered and Threatened Species of the Platte River (2004)

Atlantic Salmon in Maine (2004)

Endangered and Threatened Fishes in the Klamath River Basin (2004)

Cumulative Environmental Effects of Alaska North Slope Oil and Gas Development (2003)

Estimating the Public Health Benefits of Proposed Air Pollution Regulations (2002)

Biosolids Applied to Land: Advancing Standards and Practices (2002)

The Airliner Cabin Environment and Health of Passengers and Crew (2002)

Arsenic in Drinking Water: 2001 Update (2001)

Evaluating Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Programs (2001)

Compensating for Wetland Losses Under the Clean Water Act (2001)

A Risk-Management Strategy for PCB-Contaminated Sediments (2001)

Acute Exposure Guideline Levels for Selected Airborne Chemicals (4 volumes, 2000-2004)

Toxicological Effects of Methylmercury (2000)

Strengthening Science at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2000)

Scientific Frontiers in Developmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment (2000)

Ecological Indicators for the Nation (2000)

Waste Incineration and Public Health (1999)

Hormonally Active Agents in the Environment (1999)

Research Priorities for Airborne Particulate Matter (4 volumes, 1998-2004)

The National Research Council’s Committee on Toxicology: The First 50 Years (1997)

Carcinogens and Anticarcinogens in the Human Diet (1996)

Upstream: Salmon and Society in the Pacific Northwest (1996)

Science and the Endangered Species Act (1995)

Wetlands: Characteristics and Boundaries (1995)

Biologic Markers (5 volumes, 1989-1995)

Review of EPA's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (3 volumes, 1994-1995)

Science and Judgment in Risk Assessment (1994)

Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children (1993)

Dolphins and the Tuna Industry (1992)

Science and the National Parks (1992)

Human Exposure Assessment for Airborne Pollutants (1991)

Rethinking the Ozone Problem in Urban and Regional Air Pollution (1991)

Decline of the Sea Turtles (1990)


Copies of these reports may be ordered from the National Academies Press

(800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313

www.nap.edu

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
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OTHER REPORTS OF THE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD

Predicting Air Quality Effects of Traffic-Flow Improvements: Final Report and User's Guide (2005)

Energy and Environment Concerns 2004 (2004)

Short-Term Monitoring for Compliance with Air Quality Standards (2004)

Travel Matters: Mitigating Climate Change with Sustainable Surface Transportation (2003)

Environmental Law and Transportation (2003)

Sustainability and Environmental Concerns in Transportation 2003 (2003)

Energy, Air Quality, and Fuels 2003 (2003)

Environmental Information Management and Decision Support System—Implementation Handbook (2003)

Strategies for Increasing the Effectiveness of Commuter Benefits (2003)

Guideline for Selecting Compensatory Wetlands Mitigation Options (2003)

Interactions Between Roadways and Wildlife Ecology (2002)

Assessing the Impact of Bridge Deck Runoff Contaminates in Receiving Waters (2002)

Mitigating Transportation’s Ecological Impacts (2002)

Surface Transportation Environmental Research: A Long-Term Strategy (2002)

A Process for Setting, Managing, and Monitoring Environmental Windows for Dredging Projects (2002)

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program: Assessing 10 Years of Experience (2002)

Energy, Air Quality, and Fuels 2002 (2002)

Environmental Research Needs in Transportation: Report of a Conference, Washington, D.C., March 21-23, 2002 (2002)

Sustainability and Environmental Concerns in Transportation 2003 (2002)

Environmental Performance of Tanker Designs in Collision and Grounding: Method for Comparison (2001)

Toward A Sustainable Future: Addressing the Long-Term Effects of Motor Vehicle Transportation on Climate and Ecology (1997)

Expanding Metropolitan Highways: Implications for Air Quality and Energy Use—Special Report 245 (1995)


Copies of these and other TRB reports may be ordered from the Transportation Research Board

(202) 334-3213

TRB Bookstore (www.TRB.org/bookstore)

TRBSales@nas.edu

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful for the generous support provided by U.S. Department of Transportation and are especially grateful for the outstanding assistance provided by Dr. Paul Garrett. Many people assisted the committee and National Research Council by providing data and reports. We are grateful for the information and support provided by the following:


Marina Alberti, University of Washington

David Andersen, Washington State Office of Community Trade and Economic Development

Fred Bank, Federal Highway Administration

Paul Barten, University of Massachusetts

William I. Boarman, U.S. Geological Survey

Ray Bransfield, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Todd D. Carlson, Washington State Department of Transportation

Laurie W. Carr, TerraSystems Research

Kristan Majors Chilcoat, Emory University

Scott Dawson, California Department of Fish and Game

Robert Fuerstenberg, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks

Margot J. Griswold, Earthworks Construction & Design

Howard Haemmerle, King County Department of Transportation

Eugene S. Helfman, University of Georgia

Art Homrighausen, LSA Associates, Inc.

Geary Hund, California State Parks

Robert A. James, California Department of Transportation

John Kusler, Association of State Wetland Managers

Gino Lucchetti, King County Department of Natural Resources

Gary McVoy, New York State Department of Transportation

Ivan Miller, Puget Sound Regional Council

William Ruediger, U.S. Forest Service

Mark Shaffer, Doris Duke Foundation

Emily Tibbott, The Nature Conservancy

Benjamin Tuggle, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Sylvia Vega, California Department of Transportation

Paul A. Waddel, University of Washington

Michael White, Conservation Biology Institute

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
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Acknowledgment of Review Participants

This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National Research Council’s Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their review of this report:


Frank W. Davis, University of California, Santa Barbara

Andras Fekete, The RBA Group

Richard T.T. Forman, Harvard University

Kevin E. Heanue, Consultant

Arnold M. Howitt, Harvard University

Herbert S. Levinson, Consultant

Judith L. Meyer, University of Georgia

Helen Mountford, Consultant

G. Scott Rutherford, University of Washington

William H. Schlesinger, Duke University

Kumares C. Sinha, Purdue University

B.L. Turner II, Clark University

Susan L. Ustin, University of California, Davis

Patricia White, Defenders of Wildlife

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
×

Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations, nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by William L. Chameides, Georgia Institute of Technology; Gordon Orians, University of Washington (Emeritus); and Lester A. Hoel, University of Virginia. Appointed by the National Research Council, they were responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring committee and the institution.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
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Preface

In the past century, dramatic changes have been made in the U.S. road system to accommodate an evolving set of needs, including personal travel, economic development, and military transport. As the struggle to accommodate larger volumes of traffic continues, the road system is increasing in width and, at a slower pace, overall length.

As the road system changes, so does the relationship between roads and the environment. With the increase in roads, more resources are going toward road construction and management. More is also understood about the impact of roads on the environment. To address these matters, a better understanding of road ecology and better methods of integrating that understanding into all aspects of road development are needed.

This report attempts to consolidate understanding in a number of areas—how roads interact with different ecological structures and processes across scales of space and time; how the legal framework for evaluating ecological effects intersects with the scales of ecological features; and how ecological considerations can be integrated better into all phases of road development—from planning to use.

The compilation of current understanding of the effects of roads on ecological processes and structures is a major focus of this report. We found that most of the current knowledge is about aspects of the environment that change over short time periods and small areas and that ecological processes and structures that cover large areas over broad time scales have been largely overlooked.

The current federal legal framework for consideration of ecological impacts of roads has essentially been in place for over three decades.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
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This framework considers a few critical pieces of ecosystems but could be expanded to include more ecological features. The opportunity exists to evaluate the efficacy of these laws and policies, but the collection of more data and the synthesis of extant information need to be done in ways that have generally not been done.

Integrating ecological considerations into all phases of road development—from planning to construction to vehicle use to ongoing maintenance—is a continuing challenge. Practitioners are moving in that direction and are encouraged to continue in that direction. We suggest that integrative assessments done earlier in the planning process are a key solution to this chronic issue.

These findings would not have been possible without the hard work, collective action, and perseverance of this committee. I would like to thank my colleagues on the committee for their efforts. Some members of the group have hundreds of years of collective experience as practitioners and gladly shared that wisdom; others are among the leading researchers in the field of road ecology. I have been honored to serve alongside such an august group. But even more, it was a pleasure and joy to get to know them and work with them all.

The committee and I gratefully acknowledge and thank the staff of the National Research Council for their support. Suzanne van Drunick served as project director and provided gracious leadership throughout the project. Bryan Shipley provided beneficial research and report preparation. Liza Hamilton provided outstanding venues and programs for the meetings and help in preparing the report. David Policansky provided helpful guidance and counsel. Ruth Crossgrove, Mirsada Karalic-Loncarevic, John Brown, Alexandra Stupple, and Sammy Bardley also helped with various aspects of the project and report preparation. The committee is appreciative of BEST members for their oversight of this study.

The committee benefited immensely from the help and advice of practitioners and scientists who spent their valuable time to give presentations, reports, and advice to the committee during the numerous meetings.

The National Research Council process for producing the report involves extensive reliance on external reviewers. The committee thanks the reviewers of its final report for their thoughtful contributions.

We hope that the conclusions and recommendations of the report provide solid advice to agencies and the road community to better assess

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and integrate environmental concerns into all phases of road development. We also hope that in some small way this information provides a foundation for a more sustainable future.

Lance Gunderson, Chair

Committee on Ecological Impacts of Road Density

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
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Abbreviations


AASHTO

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials


BMP

best-management practices


CAA

Clean Air Act

Caltrans

California Department of Transportation

CE

categorical exclusion

CEQ

Council on Environmental Quality

CIFOR

Center for International Forestry Research

CMAQ

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program

Corps

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

CSD

context-sensitive design

CSS

context-sensitive solutions

CWA

Clean Water Act

CZMA

Coastal Zone Management Act


DOA

U.S. Department of Agriculture

DOI

U.S. Department of the Interior

DOT

U.S. Department of Transportation


EA

environmental assessment

EA/FONSI

environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact

EIS

environmental impact statement

EO

Executive Order

EPA

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPS

environmental policy statement

ESA

Endangered Species Act

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
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ETAP

environmental technical advisory team


FHWA

Federal Highway Administration

FLH

federal lands highway

FPPA

Farmland Protection Policy Act

FTA

Federal Transit Administration


GIS

geographic information system


HEP

habitat evaluation procedure

HGM

hydrogeomorphic method


IRI

international roughness index

ISTEA

Intermodal Surface Transportation Equity Act


LARCH

landscape ecological analysis and rules for the configuration of habitat model

LOS

level of service

LRTP

long-range transportation plan

LWCFA

Land and Water Conservation Fund Act


MBTA

Migratory Bird Treaty Act

MOU

memorandum of understanding

MPO

metropolitan planning organization


NAAQS

National Ambient Air Quality Standards

NAS

National Academy of Sciences

NCHRP

National Cooperative Highway Research Program

NEPA

National Environmental Policy Act

NGO

nongovernmental organization

NHPA

National Historic Preservation Act

NHS

national highway system

NOAA

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOX

nitrogen oxides

NPDES

national pollutant discharge elimination system

NPS

National Park Service

NRC

National Research Council

NWP

nationwide permit


PM10

particulate matter up to 10 micrometers in diameter


ROD

record of decision


SAMP

special area management plan

SEA

street edge alternatives

SEF

southeastern ecological framework

SEMP

Strategic Environmental Management Program

SIP

state implementation plan

SPGP

state program general permit

STIP

state transportation improvement plan

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
×

STPP

surface transportation policy project


TE

transportation enhancement

TEA-21

Transportation Equity Act for the Twenty-First Century

TIP

transportation improvement program

TMDL

total maximum daily load

TNC

The Nature Conservancy

TRB

Transportation Research Board


USFWS

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service


V/SF

volume to service flow ratio

VMT

vehicle miles of travel

VOC

volatile organic compound

Page xxii Cite
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
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FIGURES

1-1

 

Photograph of double yellow line in the center of a road,

 

27

1-2

 

A larger segment of the road as seen in Figure 1-1,

 

28

1-3

 

A larger (longer segment) of road on Emory campus,

 

29

1-4

 

At this scale of photograph, most of the buildings that make up the central campus of Emory University can be seen embedded in a network of roads,

 

30

1-5

 

At an extent of 10 km × 10 km, the road patterns around Emory campus are evident, yet individual roads are scarcely visible,

 

31

1-6

 

At an extent of 100 km × 100 km, the urban imprint of Atlanta is visible,

 

32

1-7

 

At an extent of 1,000 km × 1,000 km, geological features dominate,

 

33

1-8

 

At an extent of approximately 10,000 km × 10,000 km, clouds and atmospheric structures appear as well as the entire continent of North America,

 

34

1-9

 

Ecological hierarchy indicated by the spatial and temporal scales of vegetation structures (needles, patches, and forests), disturbance processes (fire), and atmospheric structures (fronts),

 

35

2-1

 

Time course of number of vehicle miles traveled by year from 1960 to 2000, indicating travel on rural and urban portions of the highway system,

 

41

2-2

 

Map of National Highway System in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico,

 

46

2-3

 

Miles of road and use of roads in urban and rural portions of the National Highway System,

 

47

2-4

 

Total road mileage (summation of all road lengths) and travel by functional type in the year 2000,

 

48

Page xxvi Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
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2-5

 

Example of rectangular grid pattern of roads in Chicago,

 

50

2-6

 

Example of hub-and-spoke pattern of roads found in Washington, DC,

 

51

2-7

 

Traffic congestion map showing a concentration of congested highways in the southeastern and south-central regions of New Hampshire,

 

57

2-8

 

Percentage of vehicle miles traveled on urban freeways and principal arterials occurring under congested conditions from 1987 to 2000,

 

58

2-9

 

Pavement surface condition of the national and interstate highway systems,

 

58

3-1

 

Road affecting four aspects of stream connectivity,

 

72

3-2

 

Sources of 23 pollutant constituents in storm-water runoff,

 

74

3-3

 

Schematic representation of the primary ecological effects of roads on species and populations,

 

78

3-4

 

Wildlife crossings are designed to link critical habitats and provide safe movement of animals across busy roads,

 

81

3-5

 

Spatial and temporal dimensions of ecological effects of roads,

 

90

4-1

 

Illustration of a reduction in total road length reducing the ecological effect of roads and traffic,

 

101

4-2

 

Illustration of the effect of traffic volume on the road-avoidance zone or the distance maintained by those animals that avoid a road,

 

102

4-3

 

Illustration of reducing traffic near ecologically sensitive water bodies,

 

103

4-4

 

Conceptual illustration of the general relationship between the width of the road-effect zone and the volume of traffic on the road,

 

104

4-5

 

Illustration of how the ecological effects of a new road can be mitigated by consideration of surrounding land use,

 

105

4-6

 

Illustration of mitigation measures to reduce the ecological effects of roads when it is not possible to redirect traffic away from natural areas,

 

106

4-7

 

Examples of ecological restoration performed by ongoing road maintenance operations,

 

115

6-1

 

EPA ecological framework: essential ecological attributes,

 

189

6-2

 

The spectrum of environmental performance measures,

 

189

Page xxvii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2005. Assessing and Managing the Ecological Impacts of Paved Roads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11535.
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6-3

 

Diagram of committee’s proposed framework for a rapid assessment method,

 

195

6-4

 

A suite of indicators across scales is being adopted by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Strategic Environmental Management Project,

 

198

TABLES

2-1

 

Functional System Changes, 1990-2000,

 

43

2-2

 

Interstate Highway System—Key Statistics,

 

45

2-3

 

National Highway System Mileage and Travel in Rural and Urban Areas,

 

47

2-4

 

Ownership of U.S. Roads and Streets,

 

55

2-5

 

Level-of-Service Chart for Major State Highways in New Hampshire Based on 2002 Traffic Data,

 

56

2-6

 

Conditions of Highway Bridges,

 

59

2-7

 

Backlog of Bridge Investment Needs,

 

60

3-1

 

Comparison of Ecosystem Goods and Services and Ecosystem Structures and Processes Affected by Roads,

 

64

3-2

 

Summary of Number of Studies Addressing Different Types of Road Effects on Ecological Conditions,

 

68

3-3

 

Examples of the Extent to Which Road-Induced Effects Penetrate Adjacent Habitat,

 

88

5-1

 

Types of Considerations Required by Environmental Laws, Programs, and Executive Orders That Address Ecosystems and Components of Ecosystems with Regard to Roads,

 

154

5-2

 

Types of Considerations Required by Environmental Laws, Programs, and Executive Orders That Address Groups of Organisms (Species and Populations) with Regard to Roads,

 

156

5-3

 

Types of Considerations Required by Environmental Laws, Programs, and Executive Orders That Address Different Ecosystem Types with Regard to Roads,

 

158

5-4

 

Ecological Scale at Which Legislation Is Applied,

 

160

5-5

 

Political Scale at Which Environmental Legislation, Program, or Executive Orders Are Applied,

 

164

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Assessing and Managing
the Ecological Impacts
of Paved Roads

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All phases of road development—from construction and use by vehicles to maintenance—affect physical and chemical soil conditions, water flow, and air and water quality, as well as plants and animals. Roads and traffic can alter wildlife habitat, cause vehicle-related mortality, impede animal migration, and disperse nonnative pest species of plants and animals. Integrating environmental considerations into all phases of transportation is an important, evolving process. The increasing awareness of environmental issues has made road development more complex and controversial. Over the past two decades, the Federal Highway Administration and state transportation agencies have increasingly recognized the importance of the effects of transportation on the natural environment. This report provides guidance on ways to reconcile the different goals of road development and environmental conservation. It identifies the ecological effects of roads that can be evaluated in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of roads and offers several recommendations to help better understand and manage ecological impacts of paved roads.

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