In the hard-hat world of U.S. transportation, “teatime” means big changes. In 1991, ISTEA (pronounced “ice tea”), the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, became the first piece of federal legislation since the Interstate Highway System in 1956 to present an overall intermodal approach to highway and transit funding. Then came the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) and, in 2005, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

The next “tea party,” however, must go beyond previous models and embrace principles of sustainability for all types of transportation projects. This movement is already underway and it is ready to be chartered federally. I recommend the acronym, GREEN-TEA.

Despite current funding roadblocks, now is a propitious time for GREEN-TEA to gain traction. For this to happen, however, two conditions must be met. First, our legislators must develop backbones and find the political will to create more sustainable transportation, housing, and energy policies. Second, our industry must exhibit a sense of urgency in adopting a more sustainable approach.

On Capitol Hill, transportation has been put on the back-burner, though it has a good chance of getting considerably more funds in 2010. Because investments in transportation create jobs, the House has passed the Jobs for Main Street Act of 2010, which would provide $27.5 billion for highways, $8.4 billion for transit, $800 million for Amtrak, and $500 million for airports. A comprehensive re-draft of the multi-year surface transportation law is stalled, although a proposed House highway bill of about $500 billion is ready to go. An increase in the federal gas tax, which hasn’t been raised since 1993, has been suggested by Rep. James Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The good news is that the Obama administration recognizes the connection between sustainability and other priorities such as jobs, energy, and affordable housing. In announcing the Sustainable Communities Initiative, in March 2009, U.S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood said, “One of my highest priorities is to help promote more livable communities through sustainable surface transportation programs.”

Activity at the state level is also heating up. In Illinois, for example, the transportation department partnered with the design and construction industry to create a pilot sustainable transportation workbook called I-LAST (Illinois Livable and Sustainable Transportation). It includes design guidelines and a scorecard system for rating projects on the degree to which sustainable best practices are used.

Everyone from policymakers and manufacturers, to industry professionals and the general public, has a role to play in improving sustainable transportation. Here are some ideas for taking action:

Policy changes

• Increase federal funding to allow modifying the ratio of highway-to-transit funding from 80/20 to 70/30.
• Move toward a national vehicle-miles traveled user-fee system with locally controlled congestion pricing strategies.
• Integrate transportation and energy policies.

Technology

• Improve the internal combustion engine while producing better hybrid and plug-in vehicles.
• Research and develop second-generation biofuels, like bagasse, corn stover, wheat straw, switchgrass, wood, or algae.
• Develop lighter and smaller personal vehicles, plus lighter but larger commercial vehicles.

Planning and engineering

• Push the envelope on sustainable design and construction practices for our facilities, infrastructure, and right-of-ways.
• Make decisions based on life-cycle cost analyses.
• Convert more freeway traffic lanes to High Occupancy Vehicle and High Occupancy Toll.
• Plan for transit nodes and transit corridors.

Behaviors

• Buy smaller, more efficient cars.
• Drive less, carpool, and use public transportation and alternatives, such as biking and walking.

I believe we have a historic opportunity to make great progress in building sustainable transportation networks that will provide mobility for people and freight while conserving energy and resources. Our industry must seize this moment. By dedicating ourselves to the principles of sustainability in policies, planning, products, design, and construction, we will enhance the quality of life for generations to come.

Pete Mesha, P.E., LEED AP, is group president of engineering for Wight & Company, a leader in integrated solutions for the built environment, with offices in Chicago and Darien, Ill. He can be reached at 630-969-7000, or pmesha@wightco.com.