Friday, April 3, 2009, 2 PM
Olsson Hall 120

Getting There? Sustainable Transportation and Smarter Growth

Trip Pollard

Abstract

Challenges such as traffic congestion, air pollution, climate change, suburban sprawl, and volatile energy prices have spurred efforts in the United States to address the economic, health, social, and environmental consequences of current transportation and land development patterns. A new paradigm is emerging. This presentation will: 1) provide an overview of the connections between transportation and land use and a summary of key current impacts; 2) explore efforts at the federal, state, and local level to adopt laws and policies that promote more sustainable transportation and smarter growth; and 3) discuss new directions and the prospects for further change.

Biography

Trip Pollard is a Senior Attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, a non-profit environmental organization that works in six southern states. He is the director of SELC's Land and Community Program, which promotes smarter growth and sustainable transportation throughout this region.

Trip has been a leader in efforts to shape transportation and land use policies throughout the Southeast. He also has written dozens of reports and articles on transportation, land use, energy, and environmental issues, including pieces for Planning, Urban Land, Environmental Law Reporter, Fordham Urban Law Journal, and the Virginia Environmental Law Journal. His recent publications include Transportation: Challenges and Choices; New Directions: Land Use, Transportation, and Climate Change in Virginia; and Driving Change: Public Policies, Individual Choices, and Environmental Damage. He has lectured widely, served on numerous governmental commissions and advisory bodies, and served on the board of many organizations.

The Civil Engineering seminar series is open to the University community.
Civil Engineering undergraduate students are especially invited to attend.