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Greenhouse gas emissions associated with materials used in commuter rail lines

2015; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 10; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/15568318.2014.985859

1556-8334

Christopher S. Hanson, Robert B. Noland, Christopher Porter,

Transportation Planning and Optimization

The research summarized here provides a technique to assess the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the construction of commuter rail projects. The main focus is on the upstream emissions associated with materials, specifically, tracks, catenary, station platforms, parking facilities, and tunnels and bridges. Data on materials used and the dimensions are outlined based on available engineering guidance. Emissions factors for each component are derived from existing databases of upstream emissions. A case study of five New Jersey Transit commuter rail lines is analyzed to demonstrate the applicability of the data for deriving GHG estimates. Results provide useful insights on what material components of construction are associated with the largest fraction of GHG emissions. Catenary systems for electrified track tend to have large embodied upstream GHG emissions due to their copper content.