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Air Quality

Recent Developments Archive

• FHWA Guide Helps Planners Make Cost-Effective Active Traffic Management Decisions

  The Federal Highway Administration has produced a guide to assist transportation agencies and planning organizations with making informed investment decisions regarding Active Traffic Management (ATM). ATM is the ability to dynamically manage recurrent and non-recurrent congestion based on prevailing and predicted traffic conditions. “Active Traffic Management Feasibility and Screening Guide” provides a recommended process for determining the feasibility of ATM strategies before committing significant resources for particular activities. It helps practitioners identify specific roadway segments most suited for ATM, appropriate strategies, and expected costs and benefits. For more information, link to the guide. (12-10-15)

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• EPA Issues Conformity Guidance for Quantitative Hot-spot Analyses in PM Areas

  The Environmental Protection Agency has released final guidance for modeling local air quality impacts of certain transportation projects in PM2.5 and PM10 nonattainment and maintenance areas for transportation conformity purposes. This guidance is to be used by state and local agencies to conduct quantitative PM "hot-spot analyses" for new highway and transit projects that involve significant diesel emissions. This guidance describes how to estimate project emissions using EPA's MOVES model, California's EMFAC model, and other methods. It also outlines how to apply air quality models (such as AERMOD and CAL3QHCR) for PM hot-spot analyses. The guidance also includes a list of additional resources that may assist agencies in conducting quantitative PM hot-spot analyses. For more information link to the guidance at http://www3.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/projectlevel-hotspot.htm#pm-hotspot (November 2015) 

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• FHWA Publishes Latest Air Quality and Climate Highlights

  The Federal Highway Administration has released the October-November 2015 issue of its Air Quality and Climate Change Highlights, including announcements of events, research and training opportunities. The issue features updates on the revised federal ozone standard, MOVES2014a model, transportation conformity guidance, climate change and resiliency product updates, a pooled fund initiative on electric vehicles, and other information. For more information, link to the publication. (9-29-15) 

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• EPA Strengthens Air Quality Standards for Ozone

  The Environmental Protection Agency has revised the primary air quality standards for ground-level ozone to 70 parts per billion (ppb). EPA also strengthened the secondary standard to improve protection for trees, plants and ecosystems. Like the primary standard, an area will meet the standard if the fourth-highest maximum daily 8-hour ozone concentration per year, averaged over three years, is equal to or less than 70 ppb. EPA said projections show the vast majority of U.S. counties will meet the standards by 2025 with federal and state rules and programs now in place or underway. For more information, link to the EPA ozone standards web page at http://www3.epa.gov/airquality/ozonepollution/actions.html#current. (10-26-15)

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• EPA Issues Question-Answer Guidance on MOVES2014a Model

  The Environmental Protection Agency has issued question-and-answer guidance on the latest version of its MOtor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES2014a). The guidance describes changes in the model for both nonroad and onroad emissions. It also provides instruction for how to switch to MOVES2014a. State and local agencies use the model to estimate volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide, and other precursors from cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles,and most categories of nonroad equipment for state implementation plans and transportation conformity determinations outside California. Agencies that have already completed significant work with MOVES2014 do not need to redo or revise that work with MOVES2014a. For more information, link to the Q and A guidance. (11-5-15)

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• FHWA Issues Memo Listing Available Flexible Transportation Alternatives Funds

  The Federal Highway Administration has issued an updated memo notifying states of flexible excess Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds available for Aug. 1, 2015-July 31, 2016. The memo includes a list of flexible excess TAP funds available by state. Most states and the District of Columbia have at least some funds accessible to them. Three states have no available funding. Under MAP-21, funds that are allocated to states but that are not reserved from specific TAP programs or not otherwise obligated become available for use either on TAP-eligible projects or for any activity that has been approved for funds under Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program, at the state's discretion. The text of the memo is available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/transportation_alternatives/guidance/flex_excess_2016.cfm.  (10-28-15)

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• EPA Announces 2015 SmartWay Excellence Awardees

  The Environmental Protection Agency has announced the recipients of the 2015 SmartWay Excellence Awards. The awards recognize shipping and logistics companies and carriers for excellence in environmental performance including the reduction of air emissions from freight. Awardees included Canon USA, Hewlett-Packard, and The Home Depot for the shipping and logistics category, and Frito-Lay, Old Dominion Freight, and UPS Small Package for the carriers. The awards are a part of the EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership. For more information, link to SmartWay Excellence Awards. (10-19-15)

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• EPA Releases Transportation-Related GHG Emissions Data

  The Environmental Protection Agency has released a summary of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions for the period of 1990-2013. The EPA reports that transportation represented 27 percent of the total GHG emissions in the United States for 2013, with passenger cars and light-duty trucks emitting the majority. During the period of the data collection, GHG emissions for the transportation sector increased more than any other sector. For more information, link to Fast Facts: U.S. Transportation Sector Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (10-22-15)

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• GAO Report Gives Overview of the Costs, Challenges and Benefits of V2I Technologies

  The Government Accountability Office has released a report evaluating the benefits and challenges of vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) technologies. The challenges that the report found include the sharing of radio frequencies, the lack of resources at the state and local levels, the development of technical standards, privacy and data security, driver education, and potential liability issues. The report also found potential benefits for safety, mobility, operations, and the environment. The report includes an overview of the status of V2I development and an analysis of the costs. For more information, link to Intelligent Transportation Systems: Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Technologies Expected to Offer Benefits, but Deployment Challenges Exist. (10-15-15)

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• USDOT Issues Report on Los Angeles Congestion Reduction Demonstration

  The U.S. Department of Transportation has released a report on the Los Angeles Congestion Reduction Demonstration program. The Los Angeles demonstration was part of a six-city competitive funding program nationwide to assess the effectiveness of congestion management through pricing activities such as tolling. The Los Angeles project included converting existing high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes to dynamically-priced high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, called ExpressLanes; variable pricing parking systems; transit improvements such as the purchase of new buses and upgrades to rail stations; and travel demand management programs such as vanpools. The report found that the city added peak period transportation capacity for single-occupant vehicles. The report includes an analysis of impacts on various factors including congestion, transit and ridesharing, safety, and air quality, as well as lessons learned. For more information, link to Los Angeles Congestion Reduction Demonstration Express Lanes Program: National Evaluation Report. (10-15-15)

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• FHWA Releases Latest Issue of Air Quality and Climate Change Highlights

  The Federal Highway Administration has released the September-October 2015 issue of its Air Quality and Climate Change Highlights, including announcements of events, research and training opportunities. The new issue features an article about EPA’s proposal to revise the Guideline on Air Quality Models by replacing CALINE3 with AERMOD as the preferred model for determining near-field impacts for primary emissions from mobile sources. Another article provides a link to FHWA’s recommendations for how to use EPA’s Motor Vehicle Emissions Simulator (MOVES) model for NEPA MSAT analysis. In addition, the publication provides information on the winners of the 2015 Transportation Planning Excellence Awards Program for its “Moving Forward Update 2035 Regional Transportation Plan.”  For more information, link to the publication. (9-29-15)

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• Department of Energy Releases Second Report on Fuel Cell Electric Buses

  The Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory has released its second report on the American Fuel Cell Bus Project, a demonstration of fuel cell electric buses (FCEB) operating in the Coachella Valley area of California. The project began in December of 2011 and seeks to compare performance of FCEBs to that of conventional technology. The report, which focuses on the project’s performance from March 2013 through June 2015, finds that the fuel cell bus efficiency was two times higher than that of the CNG buses, but that costs for FCEB technology remain much higher than conventional technology. For more information, link to the Report. (9-27-15)

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• Study Provides Template Programmatic Agreement for Project-Level Air Quality Analyses

  A draft programmatic agreement template for project-level carbon monoxide (CO) hot-spot analysis has been developed under the National Cooperative Highway Program (NCHRP Project 25-25/Task 78).  The template is based on based on new models and guidance and can help state DOTs avoid performing unnecessary CO analyses under the National Environmental Policy Act.  The research also provides a draft technical support document template, and potential research areas that would support NEPA analyses and help in developing PAs for particulate matter and Mobile Source Air Toxics. For more information, link to Programmatic Agreements for Project-Level Air Quality Analyses Using MOVES, CAL3QHC/R and AERMOD. (9-14-15)

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• FHWA Updates Status of CAA Sanction Clocks

  The Federal Highway Administration has updated its list of sanctions imposed on communities around the country for various violations of or delays in attaining certain emissions standards and clean air regulations under the Clean Air Act. The table provides the community affected, the applicable standard in consideration, the effective date of the sanction, the dates of the 2:1 offset sanction and highway sanction and the current status. For more information, link to the full table. (9-11-15)

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• FHWA Issues FAQ on Quantitative MSAT Analysis for NEPA Documents

  The Federal Highway Administration has issued a collection of frequently asked questions concerning the conducting of mobile source air toxic (MSAT) quantitative analysis for highway projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The document, intended to supplement the agency’s Interim Guidance Update on Mobile Source Air Toxics Analysis in NEPA issued in 2012, addresses scoping of the analysis; inputs, data entry, and quality checking of the MOVES emissions model; where to find the data; and how to verify data quality. For more information, link to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Conducting Quantitative MSAT Analysis for FHWA NEPA Documents (9-2-15)

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• Report Examines Eco-Driving to Reduce Emissions from Heavy-Duty Trucks

  A report from the National Center for Sustainable Transportation documents the potential benefits of eco-driving to reduce the carbon footprint from freight movement by heavy-duty trucks. The report describes eco-driving strategies, which create incentives for truck drivers to embrace fuel-efficient vehicle operation and maintenance. The report looks at policies that can overcome potential challenges and research needs to advance eco-driving. Key elements include driver education and training, vehicle maintenance and technology support, and policy support. For more information, link to Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Freight Movement through Eco-Driving Programs for Heavy-Duty Trucks. (8-24-15)

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• Energy Department Announces $10 Million to Advance Environmentally Friendly Highway Transportation Technologies

  The Energy Department has announced $10 million for eight incubator projects to develop innovative solutions for efficient and environmentally-friendly vehicle technologies that will help reduce petroleum use in the United States. The funding will go toward projects that pursue breakthrough approaches to providing Americans with greater freedom of mobility and energy security, while lowering costs and reducing environmental impacts. For more information, link to the announcement. (8-26-15)

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• FHWA Air Quality and Climate Change Highlights

  The Federal Highway Administration has released the June/July 2015 issue of its Air Quality and Climate Change Highlights, including announcements and events, research and training opportunities. Among the recent efforts are updates to the Climate Change Data Resource and Toolkit to add new themes, ongoing webinars as part of the Advancing a Sustainable Highway System series and the Southern Transportation and Air Quality Summit. The newsletter also describes the release of the report on the administration’s electric vehicle deployment and infrastructure study, as well as upcoming training on air quality and transit oriented development and the MOVES model. In addition, several webcasts and recorded presentations are included from recent conferences and webinars. For more information, link to the newsletter. (8-10-15)

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• Massachusetts DOT Provides Employees Eco-Driving Training

  The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has provided eco-driving training to 65 MassDOT employees as part of its research project, “Mitigation Techniques to Modify Driver Performance to Improve Fuel Efficiency, Reduce Emissions and Improve Safety” and the larger GreenDOT sustainability program. The project includes a total of 133 employees that are driving light-duty vehicles using the GreenRoad in-vehicle technology that collects data on fuel consumption and driving performance. The eco-driving training constitutes the second phase of the project, and the final conclusions will be drawn from a 7-month period of collected data from the in-vehicle devices to identify areas where fuel consumption and emissions can be reduced and safety can be improved. For more information, link to the press release. (8-10-15)

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• Report Highlights State Electric Vehicle Incentives

  The International Council on Clean Transportation, in conjunction with the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions and C40, has released a report addressing the various incentive programs cities and states have implemented to encourage electric vehicle purchasing and use. The report highlights efforts from 25 of the largest cities around the country to provide economic and infrastructure benefits to the public for electric vehicle use through programs such as tax credits, HOV lane benefits and public charging networks. Results vary by city due to certain programs having different impacts on unique transit populations, and the report provides a comprehensive look at how certain innovations are working across the country to best inform local efforts. For more information, link to the blog post or the full report, Assessment of Leading Electric Vehicle Promotion Activities in United States Cities. (8-7-15)

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• Delaware Launches Clean Transportation Incentive Program

  The Delaware Division of Energy and Climate has announced the Clean Transportation Incentive Program designed to encourage the use of and investment in clean alternative-fuel vehicles and the clean transportation fuel infrastructure. The program is a five-pronged approach that includes a clean vehicle rebate program, an electric vehicle charging equipment rebate program, a heavy-duty vehicle rebate program, alternative fueling infrastructure grants and innovative transportation greenhouse gas reduction grants. Funding for the program stems from the state’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative at an amount of $2.7 million for the current fiscal year. For more information, link to the program’s website. (7-24-15)

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• U.S. Chamber Releases Report on Effects of EPA Ozone Standards

  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21^st Century Energy has released a report examining the negative impacts on transportation projects of new EPA ozone standards that would tighten emission limits to 65-70 parts per billion. The report, Grinding to A Halt, posits that at least 13 projects across the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area are at risk of being unable to demonstrate compliance with the new standards by year 2018 as required, which could lead to the withholding of much-needed highway funds. Due to Washington D.C.’s already extensive emissions standards and restrictions, the Chamber points out, adding the weight of new additional standards will increase the difficulty of compliance. The report addresses what the new standards entail, the history of transportation funding halts and an overview of Washington, D.C.’s conformity challenges for existing and developing projects. For more information and the full report, link to the press release. (7-22-15)

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• Clean Energy Finance Forum Examines EV Investment

  The Clean Energy Finance Forum has released a report that addresses whether policymakers should emphasize investment in bolstering the electric vehicle consumer market or in implementation of the EV charging infrastructure. The report identifies successes and deficiencies in both aspects of EV use and uses the state of New York as a primary case study, due to the state’s average placement among the 50 states’ EV usage. The report finds that while both areas need investment, focusing state investment on incentivizing the EV purchasing market and lowering prices will lead to increased EV usage, thus leading to increased private sector investment in the charging infrastructure. For more information, link to Financing Electric Vehicle Markets in New York and Other States. (7-20-15)

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• Sierra Club Releases Updated Electric Vehicle Guide

  The Sierra Club has released their updated Electric Vehicle Guide that includes new vehicles and an updated electric vehicle consumer incentives database. The guide is designed to assist consumers in purchasing the right electric vehicle for their needs and highlights new EV initiatives, provides information on discounts, charging incentives and tax credits and matches consumers with over 20 EV models depending on miles traveled, budget and community EV features. For more information, link to the press release. (7-17-15)

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• National Academies of Science Release Report on Light-Duty Vehicle Fuel Consumption

  The National Academies of Sciences’ Board on Energy and Environmental Systems has conducted a study on the implementation of fuel reduction technologies through light-duty vehicles from year 2020 to 2030. The report is in light of new EPA standards that require the next generation fleet of light-duty vehicles to double in fuel economy by year 2025. The report examined existing technologies and opportunities for advancement, as well as cost implications and barriers to the consumer marketplace. In addition, technologies associated with alternative fuel methods that are anticipated to be in use by 2030 and their relationship with light-duty vehicles were addressed, including self-driving vehicles. In certain instances of cost estimation and fuel consumption projections, the report differed from EPA and NHTSA findings, and further recommendations for agency research were given. For more information, link to the full report. (7-7-15)

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• Oregon Launches Nation's First Per-Mile Charging System

  The Oregon Department of Transportation has kicked off the OreGo program, charging enrolled drivers 1.5 cents per mile to use Oregon roads and in turn providing credits to users on their bill to offset state fuel tax paid at the gas pump.  Beginning July 1, drivers can enroll and receive a GPS or non-GPS reporting device to be installed in their car that tracks mileage and fuel consumption. As of now, the program is limited to 5,000 cars and light-duty commercial vehicles, and enrollees sign up voluntarily. Enrollees that are also participants in pay-by-the-mile insurance coverage also can link their OreGo account with their insurance. For more information, link to the press release. (7-1-15)

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• FHWA Examines Plug-In Electric Vehicle Deployment

  The Federal Highway Administration has released a report on the deployment of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and associated technology and the effects that will be seen on transportation agencies, including the programmatic and financial impacts as well as infrastructure modifications. The report analyzes eight market penetration scenarios and highlights actions that can be taken by FHWA to accommodate the new technology, build a charging infrastructure, raise highway revenues and maximize the environmental benefits that will emerge. For more information, link to the full report. (6-26-15)

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• White House Examines Domestic Petroleum Consumption

  The White House Council of Economic Advisors has released a report on U.S. petroleum production and consumption and has determined that consumption has dramatically decreased over the past 20 years while production has increased almost 75 percent from 2008. The report found that consumption will continue to decrease, projecting a 34 percent decrease by 2025, and that vehicle miles traveled has impacted consumption more than advancements in fuel economy technology. For the full results of the study, link to the report. (6-26-15)

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• EPA, DOT Propose New GHG and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles

  The EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have jointly proposed new standards for fuel efficiency and carbon emissions for medium and heavy-duty vehicles, to be phased in and implemented for years 2021-2027. The proposed standards apply to semi-trucks, large pickup trucks and vans and all buses and work trucks, and will build on the standards already in place for years 2014-2018. Fuel cost savings in the realm of $170 billion and a reduction in fuel consumption by 1.8 billion barrels are projected, and emissions are expected to be cut by 1 billion metric tons. The standards allow manufacturers the flexibility to use a wide range of technologies to achieve the required results and include banking and trading of emissions credits to encourage cost-effective methods. The public will have 60 days to submit comments to the EPA and NHTSA once the proposal is officially published in the Federal Register. For more information, link to the announcement. (6-19-15)

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• UC Davis Study Looks at Strategies for Low-Emission Trucking

  UC Davis’ Institute of Transportation Studies has put together a white paper titled, “Strategies for Transitioning to Low-Carbon Emission Trucks in the United States,” to address possible technological and fuel advancements to lower emissions from medium and heavy-duty trucks. Two scenarios are explored in the white paper: the achievement of a complete fleet of zero emission vehicle trucks using fuel cells by 2050, and using a combination of ZEV requirements and other GHG reductions through the use of biofuels. The study finds that the decreasing costs of these fuels and technologies could contribute to a successful effort, though in the face of unknown costs, impacts and time frames. The study also considers policy efforts and cost estimates. For more information and the full white paper, as well as a policy brief, link to the blog post. (6-11-15)

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• RFF Issues Report on Fuel Economy, GHG Credit Trading

  Resources for the Future has produced a study that explores the credit markets for vehicle manufactures to buy and sell fuel economy and greenhouse gas credits, and their functionality in the face of factors such as overlapping regulations. The study addresses the strict Corporate Average Fuel Economy and GHG standards and their associated trading programs, examines operational evidence from the past few years and looks at other market-based policies that could inform these programs. For the full report, link here. (5-28-15)

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• DOE Releases Summary on Idling Reduction for Emergency Vehicles

  The U.S. Department of Energy has released a summary pointing to ways that emergency and other service vehicles can reduce emissions and save fuel through new idling reduction technologies. The summary highlights power management systems and heat recovery devices for police vehicles, the use of auxiliary power units in police vehicles, ambulances and fire engines and trucks, and battery-powered air conditioning systems in armored cars. In addition, it provides a chart that includes estimated costs for vehicle-specific systems. For the full summary, link here. (5-27-15)

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• Charleston Entrepreneurs Launch Solar-Powered Taxi Service

  Two College of Charleston graduates have started Golden Sun Taxi, a short-distance taxi business that uses 8-seat solar-powered carts to transport guests around Folly Beach in South Carolina. The carts use roof-mounted solar panels to charge the cart batteries while in use and supplement the solar power with an electrical charge at night. The men aimed to harness solar power to promote renewable energy and sustainability, and intend to expand the business beyond their three carts in Folly Beach to other Charleston locations and to other cities nationwide. Link here for more information. (4-28-15)

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• AASHTO, AMPO Urge EPA to Reconsider Cost Estimates for Transportation Conformity Analyses

  State highway and metropolitan planning organizations are urging the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider cost estimates for meeting transportation conformity requirements under the Clean Air Act.  In an April 24 letter responding to an information collection request, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations said EPA is using “fundamentally flawed assumptions that result in significantly underestimated national conformity costs.” The groups requested that EPA “convene a workgroup with representatives from state DOTs and MPOs to develop more accurate assumptions and methodologies before finalizing cost estimates for the ICR.” For more information, link to the joint comment letter. (4-24-15)

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• TTI Conducts Study on Alternative Fuel Vehicle Forecasts

  The Texas A&M Transportation Institute has carried out a study examining the trends of alternative fuel vehicle use and the potential impact on tax revenue that could come about from refueling infrastructure innovations in alternative fuel technology. Among other findings, the study determined that the state of Texas could tap into $24 million in fuel taxes from fuels other than gasoline and diesel. For more information on the study, link here. (4-20-15)

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• Georgetown Climate Center Highlights Funding Options for State Electric Vehicle Programs

  The Georgetown Climate Center has released a report that addresses opportunities for states to fund plug-in electric vehicle programs that can maximize the use of electric cars in the community. The report provides highlights of state programs that are being implemented using creative funding strategies and cost-efficient innovations, such as tax incentives, strategic placement of charging stations and utility charges, to reduce barriers to use and improve electric vehicle infrastructure. For the full report, link here.

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• EPA Issues Guidance on Using MOVES2104 for Project-Level CO Analyses

  The Environmental Protection Agency has issued guidance on using the MOVES2014 emissions model to estimate carbon monoxide emissions from transportation projects. The guidance can be applied when using the model to complete any project-level quantitative CO analysis, including hot-spot analyses for transportation conformity determinations, modeling project-level emissions for state implementation plan development, and completing National Environmental Policy Act analyses. For more information, link to the guidance. (3-26-15)

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• Vehicle Manufacturers Outperform GHG Standards, Report Says

  The EPA has announced the availability of its second annual report, “Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Light Duty Vehicles: Manufacturer’s Performance Report.” The report addresses the progress individual firms have made complying with emission standards for cars and light trucks. It found that the automobile industry, again, outperformed the national greenhouse gas emissions standards. EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy, has stated the report demonstrates that “…we’re creating jobs here in the U.S., selling cleaner cars here and overseas and consumers are really benefiting from the innovations spurred by these standards.” For more information, link the press release and report. (3-26-15)

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• EPA Publishes Fact Sheet on Transportation Sector Emissions

  The EPA has published a Fast Facts sheet on greenhouse gas emissions from the U.S. transportation sector between 1990 and 2012. The Office of Transportation and Air Quality’s fact sheet lists the various sources and levels of emissions emitted during the time period. It also analyzes fuel consumption and summarizes the impact of different types of vehicles. The report found that transportation represented 28 percent of total U.S. GHG emissions in 2012. Between 1990 and 2012, greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector increased more in absolute terms than any other sector. For the more information, link to the fact sheet. (3-26-15)

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• Clean Diesel Grants Announced for 21 States and Puerto Rico

  The EPA has awarded grants to 21 states and Puerto Rico through its Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grant program. The program aims to reduce emissions from existing diesel engines by funding projects such as the retrofitting of older school buses and replacing engines in long-haul trucks. In addition to the improved air quality, communities will benefit from support to local economic development. The EPA also estimates that the projects will save approximately $13 in health care costs for every $1 of DERA utilized. For more information, link to the press release. (3-20-15)

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• Mountain-Plains Consortium Issues Report on Impact of Oil Prices

  The Mountain-Plains Consortium has released the findings from a study that explores through modeling the implementation and use of alternative fuels in the state of Washington, especially focusing on natural gas vehicles. The report addresses how changing oil prices and the use of nonpetroleum fuels affect consumption, emissions and tax revenue as they relate to long-range transportation planning. For the full report, link to http://www.mountain-plains.org/pubs/pdf/MPC15-278.pdf. (3-2-15)

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• TRB Releases Transportation Research Record Report On Emissions and Alternative Fuels

  The Transportation Research Board has released a series of papers as part of their Transportation Research Record journal series that examines the effects different regional transportation infrastructure programs in China have had on emissions, the use of alternative fuels and vehicles and the economy. The report also addresses electric vehicle use related to certain innovative infrastructure ideas and as part of the state of Oregon’s vision for year 2050. For more information and the full report, link to http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/172152.aspx. (2-23-15)

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• FHWA Issues Assessment of CMAQ Program Required under MAP-21

  The Federal Highway Administration has released a summary of findings from an assessment study of MAP-21 air quality and congestion mitigation measures that are funded under the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program. The study examined emission reductions and the relation between transportation and human health outcomes. For more information, link to the assessment study. (2-17-15)

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• FHWA Develops CMAQ Case Studies on Particulate Matter Reduction

  The Federal Highway Administration has developed case studies of state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations that are addressing recent requirements under the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program. Specifically, the case studies review efforts to implement the fine particulate matter reduction requirements enacted under MAP-21. Studies of efforts in Chicago, the Delaware Valley, New York City, and Ohio show the best examples of the MAP-21 CMAQ PM-2.5 provisions put into practice. For more information, link to the case studies. (1-22-15)

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• FHWA Releases Ramp Metering Primer

  The Federal Highway Administration has released a new primer on ramp metering as a potential tool to address commonly occurring congestion and safety issues. This publication incorporates recent research on challenges agencies experience during their attempts to deploy or expand ramp metering in their regions. This report emphasizes organizational capability, public outreach, and geometric limitations as key considerations when deploying or expanding ramp metering. For more information, link to Ramp Metering: A Proven, Effective Strategy, or Ramp Metering: A Proven, Cost-Effective Operational Strategy—A Primer. (1-15-15)

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• EPA Issues MOVES2014 Technical Guidance

  The Environmental Protection Agency has issued updated guidance on the latest version of its Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES2014) emission modeling system. EPA said the updated version provides guidance when using MOVES2014 for state implementation plan and transportation conformity purposes. The MOVES2014 guidance may be found at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/models/moves/documents/420b15007.pdf. Additional information on MOVES is available at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/models/moves/index.htm. (1-9-15)

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