Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Conference, also known as the highway lobby, became one of the most
powerful groups in Washington. In the years following World War II, the
interstate highway system was to become a major achievement. When
GM President Charles Wilson, became Secretary of Defense in 1953, he
proclaimed that a new road system was essential to U.S. security needs.
Congress approved the $25 billion Interstate Highway Act of 1956 and the
highways expanded.
The interstates in turn encouraged more single-family homes which
had to be reached by private cars. Since the mid-1950s, cities like Phoenix,
Arizona, have grown from 15-20 to over 200-400 square miles. From 1965
to 1990, the greater New York City area grew by 61% from 1965 to 1990,
while adding only 5% to its population. From 1970 to 1990, the greater
Chicago area grew by more than 46% in land area, but its population
increased by only 4%.
From 1970 to 1999 vehicle-miles of travel more than doubled while
average miles per vehicle increased a little more than 20% (See Tables 2-1a
and 2-1b).
Table 2-1a. Motor Vehicle Distance Traveled
Vehicle miles of travel (billions)
————————————————————————————————
Total
Cars
Buses
Vans
Trucks
pickups
SUVs
————————————————————————————————
1970 1110 920 4.5 123 62
1980 1527 1122 6.1 291 108
1990 2144 1418 5.7 575 146
1991 2172 1387 5.8 649 150
1996 2486 1470 6.6 817 183
1999 2691 1589 7.7 901 203
2003 2891 1661 6.8 998 216
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THE EARTH AS A GIANT GREENHOUSE
The greenhouse effect relates to the increased warming of the earth's
surface and lower atmosphere that occurs from increased levels of carbon
dioxide and other atmospheric gases. This is similar to the glass panels
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