The Environmental Threat: Sprawl, Air and Water Pollution, Global Warming

Transportation choices are an immediate means of helping our environment.

Sprawl

In just the year 2000, 100 square miles of land were paved over or otherwise developed in the Pacific Northwest. This is equal to an area as big as 4.5 Manhattan Islands or over 2 cities the size of San Francisco!

In Washington just between the years 1992 to 1997 we paved or otherwise developed 391,680 acres of land (65,280 acres per year). This would be an area as big as over 7 cities of Seattle.

Air Pollution including Global Warming Pollutants

The U.S. transportation system generates more carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions than the entire economy of any country in the world except China's.

For every passenger mile traveled, public transportation uses about half the fuel of private automobiles, SUVs and light trucks. Private vehicles emit about 95% more carbon monoxide, 92% more volatile organic compounds and about twice as much carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide for every passenger mile traveled.

Water Pollution

One to two million gallons of motor oil spill, drip, or runoff from paved-over areas into the Puget Sound every year. Because pavement cannot soak up water, very polluted water from roads runs off into streams and wetlands, hurting fish and other wildlife dependent on waterways.

As water runs off roads it picks up pollutants such as oil, grease, heavy metals, dirt and dust. This runoff has emerged as one of the largest sources of pollution in Puget Sound, contributing to restricted shellfish harvesting, un-swimmable waterways, and dwindling fish and orca whale populations.

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