Post on 14-Jan-2016
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”)
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
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”)
Latest Planning Assumptions
Conformity Determinations must be based on latest planning assumptions: Population estimates Employment Travel Congestion Transit fares, service levels and ridership TCM effectiveness
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”)
Latest Emissions Model
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:
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”)
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
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”)
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.
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”)
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