Transportation Innovations

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Boston Metro Innovations

Boston Critical Mass
Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge
Davis Square Lofts
Safe Routes to Schools
Zipcar

National/International Innovations

Car-Free Central Park
Colorado Railcar DMU
California Hydrogen Highways Network
Bogotá's Car-Free Days
World's First Magnetic Levitation Train
European Mobility Week
The Green Goat Series Switching Locomotives

Transportation -- Boston Metro         

photo use subject to General Public License 

Critical Mass, described by its participants as an "unorganized coincidence," is a celebration of cycling and a form of direct action against "car culture." Its goals include creating safer streets, reducing air and noise pollution, reaping the health benefits of cycling, reducing transportation costs and promoting cycling as a fun and sustainable alternative to driving. Begun in San Francisco in 1992, there are now 400 regular Critical Mass bike rides in every continent but Antarctica. The first Boston Critical Mass ride occurred in July 1999. Today, Boston rides leave from Copley Square at 5:30 PM on the last Friday of every month.

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Transportation -- Boston Metro      

Photo courtesy of Central Artery / Tunnel Project
(MA Turnpike Authority)

With its graceful lines and 270-foot towers, the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge fuses Boston's future with its historic past. In addition to being the widest cable-stayed bridge in the world, it is the first "hybrid" cable-stayed bridge in the United States. The bridge is a stunning addition to Boston's skyline and the capping achievement of the "Big Dig," the largest construction project in U.S. history.  Swiss bridge designer Christian Menn conceived the bridge design to reflect, with its inverted Y-shaped towers, the shape of the Bunker Hill Monument in neighboring Charlestown. 

• 1,432 feet long, 183-foot-wide main span
• Designed to carry 10 lanes of traffic
• Replaced a deteriorating six-lane double-deck bridge

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Transportation -- Boston Metro         

Davis Square Lofts is a mixed-use redevelopment of an old mill complexe in Somerville designed for customers drawn to "Lifestyles in Health and Sustainability."  The environmentally friendly housing employs maximized natural lighting, solar hot water running through concrete floors, grey water recycling, and natural cross ventilation to eliminate the need for air conditioning.  The Davis Square Loft project is also pioneering the practice of shared environmentally responsible transportation schemes by making a fleet of Smart Cars available for tenant use.  The Smart Cars take up approximately half the space of a typical car and are rated at a fuel efficiency of 60 miles per gallon.  Shared transportation reduces the need for tenant parking and is a key factor in designs for sustainable urban housing.

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Transportation -- Boston Metro       

Parents and children walking to school
(courtesy of WalkBoston)

The Safe Routes to Schools program was begun in 2000 by WalkBoston, a pedestrian advocacy group, in selected schools in Arlington and has since spread to schools in Milton, Dedham, and Boston. The program promotes walking to school by organizing group walks with parent escorts, providing students with safety training, and working with local government to ensure that sidewalks, crosswalks, and streets are safe for pedestrians.  The program's goal is to improve physical fitness, increase community cohesiveness, and reduce traffic congestion. In East Boston and Milton, the percentage of students who walk to school has increased by about 10% since 2002.

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Transportation -- Boston Metro       

Zipcar is a membership-based program that provides convenient access to on-demand automobile transportation.  Founded in Boston in 1999, it is fast becoming a national brand. Zipcars are available at designated parking areas at numerous locations near transit lines and in urban centers. All cars are connected to an intelligent wireless network that knows the vehicle's location and its intended driver.  Reservations are made over the Internet, automatically matching the driver to the nearest car.  Cars can be rented by the hour or by the day.  Members carry "Zipcards," which allow them to access the cars they have reserved.  Studies show that each Zipcar replaces 7 to 10 privately owned vehicles. 

• 30,000 members
• 7 states, 21 cities
• 1,500 new members each month

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Transportation -- National/International  

New York City's Mayor Bloomberg and its Parks & Recreation and Transportation Departments took a historic step towards a car-free Central Park loop drive. Cars will only be allowed in the park from 7:00 to 10:00 AM and 3:00 to 7:00 PM, and five entrances will be permanently closed to cars and re-landscaped. In addition, there will be a 25 mph speed limit on park drives (formerly 30 mph), and a High Occupancy Vehicle restriction during the morning rush hour on the Park's West Drive. Overall, the new rules significantly shift the balance from drivers to pedestrians.

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Transportation -- National/International

• Achieved full Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) compliance 
• Savings in operating expenses offer dramatic fuel cost reductions
• Clean, quiet, and efficient transport

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Transportation -- National/International   

Hydrogen filling station opens in Chino, CA
(courtesy of the National Hydrogen Association)

The goal of the California Hydrogen Highway Network initiative is to support and catalyze a rapid transition to a clean, hydrogen transportation economy in California, reducing dependence on foreign oil and protecting citizens from health harms related to vehicle emissions.  The "Vision 2010" for California's Hydrogen Highways is to ensure that by the end of the decade, every Californian will have access to hydrogen fuel along the state's major highways, with a significant and increasing percentage of that hydrogen produced from clean, renewable sources. By 2010, the network would have 170 hydrogen filling stations, one every 20 miles along freeway corridors.

• 15 filling stations in operation - 9 more planned
• 55 fuel cell vehicles on California roads and highways
• 2 fuel cell bus tests
• Outreach events have carried 12,000 test drivers

Transportation -- National/International

Many cities around the world now participate in annual car-free days to raise civic awareness of the effect of automobiles in the city and to help identify ways for urban areas to thrive without cars. In South America, Bogotá, Colombia has become well known for its annual Car Free Day. The streets of Bogotá, Colombia were first closed to personal motor vehicles from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM on February 24, 2000. A $25 fine encourages its seven million residents to use skates and bicycles as the only wheeled vehicles for the day. Nearly 200 miles of streets, alleys and other pathways are reserved for bicycles and pedestrians. The other streets are left open to buses, shared taxis and emergency vehicles.  With fewer cars, air quality has been shown to improve.

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Transportation -- National/International

courtesy of BMG

Shanghai took the first leap towards the future of ground transport by constructing the world's first magnetic levitation (Maglev) train.  Reaching speeds of up to 430 kilometers per hour during commuter rides, the Maglev is the world's fastest form of public ground transport, and with no wheels or onboard engine, it is quiet and efficient.  The futuristic train rushes commuters between the airport and downtown Shanghai.  The 20 mile trip takes less than 8 minutes.  Magnetic levitation transport has several benefits in addition to speed.  The lack of wheels or onboard engines make the trip quiet, energy efficient, and pollution-free.

• 8,000 passengers a day
• Magnets lift train 10 millimeters above track
• China is planning a 125-mile line between Shanghai and Hangzhou

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  European Mobility Week  

Transportation -- National/International  

Innovation

Continent-wide participation in events dedicated to sustainable mobility.

Description

The European Mobility Week represents a platform for local authorities as well as organizations from all over Europe to promote their best practices on sustainable urban mobility.  In 2003, the European Mobility Week established itself as a truly European initiative, with 320 cities from 21 countries participating.  From September 16^th to 22^nd, European citizens have the opportunity to enjoy a full week of events dedicated to sustainable mobility.  

• Multi-country initiative
• Car Free Day initiative highlights the whole week
• Safe Streets for Children theme

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