Transportation Conformity Overview H-GAC Conformity Workshop May 30, 2007.

Transportation Conformity Overview

H-GAC Conformity WorkshopMay 30, 2007

What is transportation conformity?

Air Quality Planning Transportation Planning

Transportation Conformity

Who Makes the Conformity Determination?

MPO’s Policy Board (Local level)

FHWA and FTA (Federal level)

What are the basic conformity requirements? MTP/TIP Content

Latest Planning Assumptions

Latest Emissions Model

Consultation

Timely Implementation of Transportation Control Measures (TCMs)

Consistency with Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets (MVEBs, or “Budgets”)

MTP Content

Describe transportation facilities in enough detail to permit conformity determination

Describe highway and transit system in terms of regionally significant additions or modifications to transportation network by analysis year

Fiscally constrained

TIP Content

Include all projects selected by the MPO to be initiated in the TIP time frame (4-years)

Projects described in enough detail to determine fiscal constraint

Must be fiscally constrained




Consultation




Conformity Determinations must be based on latest planning assumptions: Population estimates Employment Travel Congestion Transit fares, service levels and ridership TCM effectiveness




Consultation




Must use latest emissions model in conformity determinations EPA’s MOBILE6.2 emissions factor model

EPA updates model every few years

SIP budgets may have been developed with a previous emissions model

MOBILE6 Emissions Factor Model

Fuels and ProgramsInspection and Maintenance program

Fuel programSulfur content of gasolineFuel Reid Vapor Pressure

Vehicle FleetDistribution of vehicle age

Percent dieselAnnual mileage accumulation rates

Vehicle Activity% of total VMT by vehicle type% of VMT on each facility type

VMT by hourVMT by average speedVehicle starts per day

Vehicle start distribution (by hour)Vehicle “soak” data

Trip length distribution

External ConditionsCalendar Year

MonthTemperatures

Humidity

Grams/mile

Emissions Factor Model

Grams/mile VMTX =

From emissions factor model

From travel demand model

Grams/Day

Where it fits:




Consultation



Consultation

Follow interagency consultation procedures Spelled out in the State’s Conformity SIP

Interagency Consultation

FHWA

TCEQ

FTAMPO

EPALocal Transit

TxDOT

Consultation

Follow Public Involvement procedures HGAC’s Transportation Public Involvement Plan

available on their website




Consultation



TCMs

TCMs are actions included in the SIP to adjust traffic patterns or reduce vehicle use to reduce air pollutant emissions. Examples: HOV lanes Bicycle facilities Park & Ride lots Traffic Flow Improvements (grade separations,

signal timing)

Timely Implementation of TCMs

The transportation plan (MTP) provides for timely implementation of TCMs in the applicable SIP

Nothing in the MTP or TIP interferes with implementation of a TCM

TCMs are on or ahead of schedule. If behind schedule, TCMs given maximum priority over other projects.




Consultation



Budget Test

Projected roadway and transit emissions must be less than the MVEBs established in the SIP

Pass budget test for each “analysis year” Any year that has a budget (e.g. 2007) 8-hour Attainment Year (e.g. 2010) Last year of MTP forecast period (e.g.2035) Interim year so no more than 10 yrs apart (e.g.

2015, 2025)

Budget Test

Example from NCTCOG’s Draft Mobility 2025 Conformity Determination, April 2005

What if there isn’t a budget?

Interim emissions test

Interim test varies based on nonattainment classification

When is Conformity Required?

At least every 4 years

With MTP or TIP updates When change to a regionally significant project

After change in SIP budgets

After new emissions standards Most recently new 8-hour ozone and PM2.5

standards

MTP or TIP Project Changes

Trigger conformity if: Estimated project completion date crosses

analysis years

Change in project scope Number of lanes Project limits Toll vs. no toll

When is Conformity Required?

Within 24 months of: Date of State’s initial SIP submittal containing

motor vehicle emission budget EPA adequacy determination of SIP EPA approval of SIP revisions which establish

or revise motor vehicle emission budget EPA promulgates a Federal Implementation

Plan (FIP)

Project Level Conformity

Project must come from conforming plan and TIP Design concept and scope have not changed

significantly from what was described in transportation plan/TIP or in a manner which would significantly impact use of the facility

For projects not specifically required to be identified in transportation plan, project is consistent with policies and purpose of transportation plan and will not interfere with other projects

Project Level Conformity

Project must come from conforming plan and TIP Projects can’t receive final environmental

clearance if they aren’t consistent with the conforming plan and TIP

Conformity Consequences

Conformity Lapse

Conformity Freeze

Conformity Lapse

Caused by: Not meeting 4 yr time frame for Plan/TIP

update Not meeting any of the 24 month triggers SIP Disapproval consequences

Severely limits project actions that may be taken Project Authorizations for non-exempt projects Environmental document actions for non-

exempt projects

During a Lapse-What Projects Can Proceed?

TCMs in approved SIPs Exempt projects identified in 40 CFR §93.126

and 127 Federally funded previously conforming

projects authorized prior to the lapse: Includes preliminary engineering, right-of-way

acquisition and construction Full Funding Grant Agreements (FFGA) - FTA

Projects Regionally significant non-federal projects that

were approved prior to the lapse

SIP Disapproval

If EPA disapproves Control Strategy SIP WITH a “protective finding” Disapproved SIP emission budget can be

used for conformity if found “adequate” Highway sanctions/Conformity Lapse occur 24

months later

Conformity Freeze

Applied when EPA disapproves Control Strategy SIP w/o a protective finding Begins on effective date of disapproval Only projects in first 3 yrs of TIP can move

forward If no SIP resubmitted and approved in 2 yrs,

highway sanctions/conformity lapse occurs

Transportation Conformity Overview H-GAC Conformity Workshop May 30, 2007.

Documents

Transcript of Transportation Conformity Overview H-GAC Conformity Workshop May 30, 2007.