ENERGY CONSUMPTION IMPACTS OF THE PROJECTS

Energy Consumption Impacts of the Projects
Contained in CDTC's TIP

Background

The U.S. Department of Transportation has included as one of its policy objectives the conservation of energy through the promotion of the implementation of transportation system improvements which will result in the reduction of motor fuel consumption. Accordingly, in a manner similar to the documentation of the reduction of air pollutant emissions, information relating to motor fuel (user cost) savings has been included in the TIP for the Capital District. This inclusion is intended to promote an awareness among transportation agencies within the Region of the motor fuel savings possible through implementation of transportation improvement projects, and to document the reduction in motor fuel consumption attributable to projects included in the TIP for the Capital District; thus utilizing the contribution of these projects to meeting the national energy conservation objective.

In addition, transportation provisions in the NY State Energy Plan (SEP) call for “redirection of transportation funding toward energy-efficient transportation alternatives, including public transportation, walking, and bicycling”. The NY SEP recognizes the role of transportation projects in improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gases, particularly CO₂.

The 2003-08 TIP Update and Energy Consumption

A review was conducted of the projects added to the TIP during the 2003-08 update for the Capital District to provide an estimate of the annual savings in motor fuel which could be expected with the completion of programmed improvements. The estimate of savings in motor fuel was used to estimate the corresponding savings in energy and greenhouse gas emissions. The methodology used was developed by the Environmental Analysis Bureau of the New York State Department of Transportation.

The results of the analysis are summarized in Tables 9 and 10. The analysis indicates that by year 2008, with the implementation of the TIP and continued progress in implementation of the CDTC New Visions Plan, daily vehicle gasoline consumption will be reduced by 2% from year 2003 levels. Without the TIP and Plan, vehicle gasoline consumption would increase by 11% from year 2003 levels. The TIP and Plan will result in an annual direct energy savings (from vehicle usage) of 2,708 billion BTU's.

Table 9

Energy Impacts of the TIP and New Visions

Scenario	Gasoline used (gallons/day)	% Increase of Gasoline from 2003	Vehicular Traveled (miles K/day)	Miles Per Gallon (Daily)	Gasoline used (gallons K/year)	Direct Energy (billions of BTU's/year)	Annual Direct Energy Net Change: TIP Build vs. No-Build (Billions of BTU's)	Regionally Significant Projects: 5 Year TIP Indirect Energy Consumption (Billions of BTU's) (Construction)
	Direct Energy Consumption (by motor vehicles)
Year 1990			17,740
Year 1996			20,470
Year 2003	1,155,344	na	23,498	20.3	300,389	37,549
Year 2008 No-build	1,220,450	6%	24,774	20.3	317,317	39,665		0
2008 with 2003-08 TIP and Financially Constrained New Visions Plan ^{^[1]}	1,137,133	-2%	23,167	20.4	295,655	36,957	(2,708)	931
Year 2015 No-build	1,281,436	11%	26,526	20.7	333,173	41,647
2015 with 2003-08 TIP and Financially Constrained New Visions Plan ¹	1,134,009	-2%	23,780	21.0	294,842	36,855	(4,791)
Year 2015 with full New Visions Plan ^{^[2]}	1,079,338	-7%	22,734	21.1	280,628	35,079	(1,777)
Year 2021 No-build	1,338,425	16%	27,756	20.7	347,990	43,499
2021 with 2003-08 TIP and Financially Constrained New Visions Plan	1,177,103	2%	24,942	21.2	306,047	38,256	(5,243)
Year 2021 with full New Visions Plan ²	1,118,460	-3%	23,796	21.3	290,800	36,350	(7,149)

Table 10

Greenhouse Gas Impacts of the TIP and New Visions

Scenario	Vehicular Travel (Miles K/Day)	Carbon Emissions (tons/year)	Percent Increase in Carbon Emissions from 2003	Annual Motor Vehicle Tons of Carbon Emission Net Change: TIP Build vs. No-Build	Regionally Significant Projects: 5 Year TIP Tons of Carbon Emitted from Construction
	Greenhouse Gas Emissions Resulting
	from the Operation of Motor Vehicles
Year 1990	17,740
Year 1996	20,470
Year 2003	23,498	800,912	Na
Year 2008 No-build	24,774	846,046	6%		0
2008 with 2003-08 TIP and Financially Constrained New Visions Plan ^{^[3]}	23,167	788,290	-2%	(57,756)	20,263
Year 2015 No-build	26,526	888,323	11%
2015 with 2003-08 TIP and Financially Constrained New Visions Plan ¹	23,780	786,122	-2%	(102,200)
Year 2015 with full New Visions Plan ^{^[4]}	22,734	748,224	-7%	(140,098)
Year 2021 No-build	27,756	927,828	16%
2021 with 2003-08 TIP and Financially Constrained New Visions Plan	24,942	815,998	2%	(111,831)
Year 2021 with full New Visions Plan ²	23,796	775,346	-3%	(152,483)

The Role of Transportation Planning in Reducing Energy
Consumption in the Capital District

CDTC has, and is continuing to address energy and air quality concerns through the planning process. Two of the most cost-effective methods of minimizing motor fuel consumption and traffic congestion problems currently being carried out through CDTC's UPWP include the reduction of traffic demand through ridesharing and CDTC’s TDM employer program. CDTC staff also performs the role of the Capital District Clean Communities coordinator. The Capital Region was designated a “Clean Community” by the US Department of Energy in April 1999. The Capital District provides substantial opportunities for the expansion of the alternative fuel marketplace, particularly with the large state vehicle fleet that operates in the area. Stakeholders in the Capital District Clean Communities (CDCC) coalition recognize the need to provide greater fuel choices in the Capital District and to reduce its dependence on imported oil. The alternative fuels currently in use in the Capital District are compressed natural gas, propane and electricity.

CDTC's ridesharing program, initially funded by the New York State Energy Office, and the Federal Transit and Highway Administrations began in January 1989. The rideshare program, called the Commuter Register, provides a free mechanism for people to advertise for and/or find a carpool partner. The Commuter Register started as a newsprint tabloid in January 1989 and was converted to a web-based virtual tabloid ten years later in January 1999. Both the newsprint version and the web version contain informational articles on the connection between carpooling, reduction in fuel consumption, improvement in air quality and reduction in traffic congestion. Information regarding proper vehicle maintenance and associated environmental benefits is also a part of the Commuter Register. The Commuter Register also provides information and links to the area’s transit provider, schedules and fares. It is estimated that the Commuter Register resulted in the formation of 510 new carpools with benefits exceeding 17.6 million vehicle-miles of travel reduced since its inception. Approximately 705,000 gallons of fuel have been saved with attendant tailpipe emission reductions, including CO₂. Implementation of CDTC's recommendations for low-cost improvements to reduce delay and energy consumption through CDTC's 1989-1993 TSM/Traffic Count program exceeds 136,000 gallons per year.

This concern with energy has been addressed in other CDTC planning activities and projects. For example, park-and-ride services were identified in CDTC's Public Transportation Plan (1971) and in its Fuel Conservation/Fuel Contingency Energy Plan (1979) and corridor service potential was documented in its Park-and-Ride Study (1980). The CDTA service potential was documented in its Park-and-Ride Study (1980) and in the 1986 Park-and-Ride Survey and the Transit Commuter Corridor Study and Saratoga County Park-and-Ride Lot Study (1993). CDTA and NYSDOT have successfully negotiated agreements with lot owners and signed several lots for park-and-ride use.

^{^[1]} The “Financially Constrained New Visions Plan” for 2008, 2015 and 2021 includes the TIP network as well as the VMT reduction that would result from the implementation of the financially constrained New Visions Plan. The year 2008 network includes projects scheduled in the five year TIP period; the year 2015 and 2021 network includes all TIP projects, including those scheduled in the post 5-year period of the TIP. It is assumed that 71% of the VMT reduction of the full implementation of the plan would be achieved by the financially constrained plan.

^{^[2]} “Year 2015 with full New Visions Plan” and “Year 2021 with full New Visions Plan” includes TIP projects plus additional economic development and congestion management projects, as well as VMT reduction that would result from the full implementation of the New Visions Plan.

^{^[3]} The “Financially Constrained New Visions Plan” for 2008, 2015 and 2021 includes the TIP network as well as the VMT reduction that would result from the implementation of the financially constrained New Visions Plan. The year 2008 network includes projects scheduled in the five year TIP period; the year 2015 and 2021 network includes all TIP projects, including those scheduled in the post 5-year period of the TIP. It is assumed that 71% of the VMT reduction of the full implementation of the plan would be achieved by the financially constrained plan.

^{^[4]} “Year 2015 with full New Visions Plan” and “Year 2021 with full New Visions Plan” includes TIP projects plus additional economic development and congestion management projects, as well as VMT reduction that would result from the full implementation of the New Visions Plan.