February2006

Executive Summary | News Release.

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Transportation is the leading source of global warming pollution in New Hampshire and the trips state residents make to and from work are a major part of the problem. Commuting is directly responsible for 7 to 9 percent of the state’s carbon dioxide emissions and commuting-related decisions – such as where to live and where to work – influence other transportation choices as well. To reduce global warming pollution from cars and trucks, to meet the state’s climate protection goals, and to prevent the potentially severe impacts of global warming, New Hampshire must find ways to reduce the global warming impact of commuting.

In order to find the right policy options for confronting global warming pollution from commuting, it is necessary to know who is commuting where and by what mode of transportation. A review of data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau identifies which towns in the state are responsible for the greatest amount of commuting-related emissions of carbon dioxide (the leading cause of global warming) and suggests ways that the state can effectively reduce emissions.

The bulk of New Hampshire’s commuting-related carbon dioxide emissions come from residents of the Concord-Manchester-Nashua corridor of southern New Hampshire.

• Commuters living within 20 miles of the Concord- Nashua corridor produced nearly two-thirds of the state’s commuting-related emissions. (See Figure ES-1.) Per commuter, residents of this corridor were responsible for 6 percent higher emissions than residents of other parts of New Hampshire.

Massachusetts-bound commuters produced about one-quarter of the carbon dioxide emissions from all New Hampshire commuters.

• About 13 percent of New Hampshire commuters travel to Massachusetts – more than to any other state. The average Massachusetts-bound commuter produces two to three times as much carbon dioxide as a commuter traveling within New Hampshire.

Commuters living in several small towns in eastern New Hampshire produce the state’s highest levels of per-commuter emissions – with emissions three to seven times greater than those of workers living in the state’s lowest emission towns.

• The towns with the highest levels of per-commuter emissions generally have the longest commutes. The average commute from Wakefield, New Durham and Northwood is between 15 and 20 miles long while the average commute from Gorham, Lebanon and Hanover is between 5 and 6 miles long.

The explosion of “exurban” residential development and the growing number of “stretch commutes” pose major challenges to the state’s efforts to reduce global warming emissions.

• Sprawling exurban development decreases population density and dramatically increases the length of commuting trips. This is a worrisome trend given that the 5 percent of New Hampshire commuters who travel at least 30 miles to work produce a disproportionately large share – around 19 percent – of the state’s commuting-related carbon dioxide emissions.

Shifting more commuting away from drive-alone trips, developing increased transit alternatives, and fostering pedestrian commuting and telecommuting can significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions from transportation.

• Regardless of their location within the state, towns with low reliance on drive-alone trips tend to have lower per-worker emissions of carbon dioxide from commuting.

New Hampshire should take a series of immediate and long-term actions to reduce global warming emissions from commuting. Among other actions, the state should:

• Adopt vehicle emission standards for pollutants that cause global warming and adopt other measures to encourage the purchase of vehicles that produce less carbon dioxide per mile traveled.

• Further integrate the state into the regional transit network by developing regional rail service in New Hampshire. The proposed rail expansion from Lowell, Massachusetts to Nashua is an excellent first step. However, long-term transportation and global warming reduction plans should also include the expansion of regional rail north to Manchester and Concord.

• Encourage carpooling, vanpooling and other programs that reduce the number of drive-alone commutes, while discouraging highway expansion projects that encourage single-passenger commuting.

• Hold suburban workplaces accountable for the carbon dioxide pollution they generate by requiring employers to implement commute-trip reduction programs.

• Slow exurban development in rural areas by encouraging urban redevelopment, transit-oriented development, the creation of more affordable housing, and mixed-use planning in new and existing suburbs.

• Develop programs to encourage residents to live near their workplaces and to encourage employers to implement telecommuting.