Transportation systems began with man and horse power, transitioned to coal, and now primarily rely on gasoline. Each of these evolutions have come with unique harms and benefits that have driven environmental and social change.

Today, we have metrics that suggest the need for the next transportation advancement. According to the United Nations Development Programme, 13.7% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to global warming come from the transportation industry. So, what does the next evolution look like?

What Is Sustainability, Anyway?

Before diving into sustainable transportation – let’s make sure we understand the concept of sustainability itself. 

Sustainability is an approach that considers various factors and perspectives (often environmental, social, and economic) to meet people’s present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. 

On a micro level, if you’ve ever shortened your shower to save hot water for the next party, you’ve practiced a form of sustainability. 

The term “sustainable development” was coined in the 1987 Brundtland Report and since then, sustainability has frequently been used by and associated with environmental efforts. However, the word “sustainable” simply means that something is capable of being sustained or maintained at length without interruption or weakening. It’s a synonym for strengthened – so, how do we strengthen transportation?

Sustainable Land Transportation

Whether it’s through simple, individual choices or larger city investments, sustainability goals across land transportation modes are clear: reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while improving mobility, safety, and efficiency. Adopting options like walking, cycling, ride-sharing, or energy-efficient vehicles (electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles, or flexible-fuel vehicles) can cut emissions with minimal infrastructure change. 

Investing in systems like microtransit, public transit, and multi-modal transit takes sustainability one step further. These systems can require the construction of physical infrastructure such as new roads, bus stops, and EV charging stations, as well as technology and software that optimizes traffic and parking congestion. Although slightly more complex, these solutions reshape how entire communities move and deliver significant, lasting environmental and community benefits. 

Smart cities use the methods outlined above to increase mobility efficiency, energy efficiency, urban resilience towards global warming, public health and safety, quality of life, and job opportunities while decreasing traffic congestion, air pollution, and noise pollution. 

Transportation’s role in public health shouldn’t be understated either, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29 causing 1.19 million premature deaths annually according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 

Road traffic injuries are a direct result of traffic congestion, which worsens when people are unable to access or rely on microtransit and mass public transit. Thoughtful infrastructure that supports sustainable transportation can help reduce these fatalities. 

Real-Life Sustainable Land Transportation Solutions

At Circuit, we work with cities, community members, and private partners to bring efficient, sustainable mobility solutions to all through the use of our all-electric vehicle (EV) microtransit fleet.

Example: Fort Lauderdale, FL

Circuit’s entirely EV fleet in Fort Lauderdale has transported nearly 10,000 passengers and saved 932 gallons of gas. The service makes the city safer, more accessible, and helps promote local jobs and businesses. 

Circuit has partnered with Florida’s existing public transit system, Tri Rail, in their Fort Lauderdale - Northwest region to fill first-mile/last-mile connectivity gaps and allow for seamless sustainable, multi-modal transportation.

Other Types of Sustainable Transportation

While land transportation may be the first to come to mind, other modes are also moving toward sustainability. 

Sustainable Freight Transportation

The freight industry has made strides in sustainability by transitioning to using multi-modal transportation to optimize first-mile/last-mile deliveries, reducing fuel use and pollution through fleet electrification and the exploration of other low/no gas emitting vehicles, and updating logistics networks to support these changes.

Sustainable Maritime Transportation

Transitioning fleets to biofuels or synthetic e-fuels, designing vehicles and operations to be more efficient, decarbonizing ports, testing electric vessels for shorter distances, using renewable shore power when docked (this allows vessels to turn off their fuel burning engines), and incorporating modern wind technology (see examples below) to reduce fuel consumption and emissions are several ways that maritime transportation can be sustainable. 

Examples of modern wind tech include:

• - Rotor sails: cylindrical, rotating structures that capture wind energy.
• - Suction wings: sails with internal fans that strategically suck air from the sail's surface to move vessels with more force and through more diverse wind conditions than a traditional sail of the same size.
• - Automated kites: large, computer-controlled kites that assist the movement of ships.

Sustainable Aviation Transportation

The aviation sector has explored sustainable efforts such as optimizing aircraft efficiency and flight paths that have significant impacts on fuel usage and emissions, transitioning from mixing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) with regular fuel to using SAF exclusively, and investigating hydrogen and electric power for shorter trips. 

Is Sustainable Transportation Feasible?

In short, yes, but there isn’t a singular solution that makes transportation sustainable, so it can look different from community to community depending on specific needs and available resources. 

As discussed, sustainable transportation takes a systems approach that considers multiple factors and perspectives to drive change. This means that the upfront cost of sustainable infrastructure and transportation can be high, but as the name suggests, they are more cost-efficient and resilient in the long-run. Transitioning to sustainable transport protects communities from being subject to volatile gas prices and inflationary pressure on energy, making it a more stable choice. Sustainable transportation improves efficiency and access, strengthens the environment, and places communities at the forefront of innovation. 

Additionally, sustainable transport options like microtransit are flexible by nature. Microtransit doesn’t require the construction of physical infrastructure, uses software to optimize rides requiring fewer vehicles and drivers than traditional public transport, and is designed to work in tandem with existing transportation. Microtransit implementation is simple, cost-efficient, and easily tailored to community needs.

To see real-world examples of how cities are funding microtransit as a form of sustainable transport, download our Funding Guide or check out our articles:

• - How to Fund Microtransit: A Guide for Cities & Agencies
• - 4 Smart Ways Cities Are Funding Microtransit Today

If you have further questions, or are interested in implementing sustainable transportation in your community, contact us, and we’ll be in touch!