Print

Air Quality

Recent Developments Archive

• FHWA Newsletter Highlights Air Quality and Climate Change News

  The Federal Highway Administration has published the October/November 2016 newsletter highlighting air quality and climate change news. The newsletter includes information on the updated interim guidance on mobile source air toxics analysis in NEPA documents, the designation of alternative fuel corridors, the updated greenhouse gas emission reduction policy analysis tool, INVEST case studies, recordings and the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program emission reductions calculator. The newsletter also lists upcoming meetings, conferences, workshops, training opportunities and deadlines. For more information, link to the newsletter. (11-29-16)

  [close]

• FHWA Issues Guidance for Quantitative Mobile Source Air Toxics Analyses

  The Federal Highway Administration has issued recommendations for conducting quantitative analyses of mobile source air toxics emissions under the National Environmental Policy Act. The guidance, which follows a recently issued interim guidance update, includes the scope of the Motor Vehicle Emissions Simulator (MOVES) model, and information concerning gathering input data and post-processing results. The document also specifies how to define the affected environment for calculating changes in emissions and provides templates for MSAT RunSpec and MSAT county data manager. For more information, link to the guidance. (11-1-16)

  [close]

• EPA Issues Recommendations for Improving Near-Road Air Quality

  The Environmental Protection Agency has released a research report with recommendations for constructing roadside vegetation barriers to improve near-road air quality. The report encompasses barrier design recommendations, characteristics for best vegetative barriers, benefits of combining vegetation with solid noise barriers and various other resources. The EPA has conducted field studies, wind tunnel assessments and modeling to examine the role of roadside barriers in reducing pollution near homes, schools and other buildings near major roadways. The report indicates that reduction in pollution is greater when vegetative barriers are thick with coverage from the ground to top of the canopy. For more information, link to the fact sheet. (11-2-16) 

  [close]

• EPA Report Highlights Automotive Technology, Emissions and Fuel Economy Trends

  The Environmental Protection Agency has released its report on trends in light-duty automotive technology, carbon dioxide emissions and fuel economy from 1975 to 2016. The report includes data based on annual production volumes of new personal vehicles delivered for sale in the U.S. by model year that include passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, minivans, pickup trucks and vans. The report analyzes fleetwide trends by vehicle class, type, attribute, manufacturer, and make and examines conventional technologies. Recent trends indicate that conventional hybrid technology has enabled manufacturers to offer high fuel economy vehicles with much greater utility while also meeting emissions and safety standards. Recent trends also suggest that some manufacturers have been able to adopt technology faster than industry-wide data has indicated. For more information, link to the report. (11-2-16)

  [close]

• FHWA Updates Guidance for Mobile Source Air Toxic Analysis in NEPA Documents

  The Federal Highway Administration has issued an updated interim guidance for mobile source air toxic (MSAT) analysis in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents. The FHWA is updating the 2012 interim guidance by incorporating new analysis conducted using the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest update of the Motor Vehicle Emissions Simulator (MOVES) vehicle emissions model, MOVES2014a. Based on the use of MOVES2014a, diesel particulate matter remains the dominant MSAT of concern for highway projects. The FHWA also has released the revised status of scientific research on air toxics. For more information, link to the updated interim guidance. (10-27-16)

  [close]

• FHWA Provides New Resources for 'It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air' Initiative

  The Federal Highway Administration has added new resources to its “It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air” website, including new ideas and marketing materials to help communities reduce traffic congestion and pollution. The site also highlights success stories such as the Georgia DOT’s Georgia Commute Options Program, which helps reduce single-occupancy vehicle travel by facilitating carpooling and promoting vanpooling and bicycling to work. The initiative provides tools to help mitigate congestion and promote alternative modes of transportation. For more information, link to the materials and success story. (10-7-16)

  [close]

• FHWA Newsletter Highlights Air Quality and Climate Change News

  The Federal Highway Administration has published the August/September 2016 newsletter highlighting air quality and climate change news. The newsletter includes information on the release of the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s final guidance for federal agencies on how to consider climate change in environmental reviews, the final report on the climate resilience pilot program, proposed and final rules being released, and the release of the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program emissions reductions calculator. The newsletter also lists upcoming meetings, conferences, workshops, and deadlines. For more information, link to the newsletter. (9-30-16) 

  [close]

• FHWA Releases Module of the CMAQ Emissions Calculator Toolkit

  The Federal Highway Administration has released the first module of the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Emissions Calculator Toolkit. The toolkit provides resources departments of transportation can use for the implementation of the CMAQ program, which supports surface transportation projects and related efforts that contribute to improved air quality and provide congestion relief. The traffic flow improvement tool is one of a series of spreadsheet-based tools to facilitate the calculation of representative air quality benefit data, for CMAQ project justification as well as the annual reporting requirements. Additional toolkit modules are under development. For more information, link to the toolkit. (9-26-16).

  [close]

• EPA Announces 2016 SmartWay Excellence Awardees

  The Environmental Protection Agency has recognized its 2016 SmartWay excellence awardees. Nine retailer, manufacturer and logistic company partners from various states such as California, Florida and Georgia were awarded for their efforts at reducing freight emissions. The improvements were accomplished through collaboration, advanced technology and operational practices, a robust system for validating and reporting data, and public outreach. It is estimated that SmartWay partners have avoided emitting 72 million metric tons of carbon pollution change and saved over 170 million barrels of oil and $24.9 billion in fuel costs. For more information, link to the press release. (9-27-16)

  [close]

• EPA Announces $7 Million for School Bus Replacement, Retrofit Rebates

  The Environmental Protection Agency has announced the availability of $7 million in rebates for school bus replacement and retrofits for 2016 as part of the Diesel Emission Reduction Program. The program was reauthorized under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2010 to encourage school bus fleet turnover. The rebates provide funding to public and private fleet owners to replace school buses powered by model year 2006 or older engines with new buses powered by 2016 or newer model year engine, or that operate on electricity. Assistance is also provided to retrofit buses powered by model year 1994 to 2006 engines with diesel oxidation catalysts closed crankcase ventilation. Applications for rebates are due Nov. 1, 2016. For more information, link to the announcement. (9-28-2016)

  [close]

• FHWA Highlights Use of Narrow Lanes and Shoulders to Manage Congestion

  The Federal Highway Administration has released a report concerning the application of performance-based practical design solutions for the construction and use of narrower lanes and shoulders on freeways to increase capacity and reduce congestion within the existing footprint. Case studies from Los Angeles, Miami-Dade, Fla., Milwaukee and Washington state, are included regarding the successful development of general purpose lanes, managed lanes and the creation of a lane in an existing interchange. For more information, link to the report. (9-6-16)

  [close]

• DOT, EPA Tighten Fuel Economy, Emissions Limits for Heavy, Medium Trucks

  The Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have jointly issued a final rule that establishes tightened greenhouse gas emission standards and fuel economy standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, ranging from school buses to dump trucks. Phased in from model year 2018 through 2027, the rule is estimated to prevent 1.1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, save vehicle owners $170 billion in fuel costs and reduce oil consumption by up to 2 billion barrels over the its lifetime.The rule will result in approximately 10 percent more greenhouse gas reductions than the proposal. Also, the rule is estimated to provide some $230 billion in net benefits once fully implemented, with benefits outweighing costs eight to one. For more information, see the Department of Transportation announcement, a joint announcement issued by the EPA and the Department of Transportation, and a fact sheet on the regulation. (8-16-16)

  [close]

• EPA Partners with MPOs to Determine Emissions Reductions from Travel Efficiency

  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has partnered with the metropolitan planning organizations in Atlanta, St. Louis, and Orlando to understand the potential of travel efficiency strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants. EPA used its Travel Efficiency Assessment Method (TEAM) to quantify the potential emission benefits of strategies such as telecommuting, transit subsidies, public transit fare changes and service improvements, road and parking pricing, and land use/smart growth. For more information, link to the study report. (7-21-16)

  [close]

• FHWA Seeks Nominations for Alternative Fuel Corridors

  The Federal Highway Administration is seeking nominations for alternative fuel corridor designations. Any state or local agency is invited to nominate a highway corridor for designation as a national electric vehicle charging, hydrogen, propane, or natural gas fueling corridor. An eligible corridor must be a segment of the National Highway System, but may also include feeder routes and roads that connect to the system. Corridors in a single state and multi-state corridors are both eligible. The FHWA will select the corridors based on the nominations received, using specified criteria. Nominations should be submitted by August 22, but late submissions will be considered if possible. For more information, view the solicitation published in the Federal Register. (7-22-16)

  [close]

• FHWA Newsletter Highlights Air Quality and Climate Change News

  The Federal Highway Administration has published the June/July 2016 newsletter highlighting air quality and climate change news. The newsletter covers announcements and recent events, such as the recent selection by the FHWA of green infrastructure research projects, proposed and final rules being released, updates to the MOVES greenhouse gas guidance and reports published on climate change resilience pilot projects. The newsletter also lists upcoming meetings, conferences and workshops; reminders of recent news and upcoming deadlines; training opportunities; and contact information. For more information, link to the newsletter. (7-21-16) 

  [close]

• FHWA Posts Five Mobile Source Air Toxics Case Studies

  The Federal Highway Administration has posted five mobile source air toxics (MSAT) analysis case studies. The California case study concerns improvements to the State Route 57/SR60 confluence at the Grand Avenue interchange in Los Angeles County, Calif. The study found that the build alternative leads to significant decreases in all MSAT pollutants. The Illinois case study found that emissions increased due to the Elgin O-Hare-West Byass project as compared to the no-build alternative, but it is still a reduction compared to existing MSAT emissions because of national pollutant control programs. The Georgia, Minnesota and New York case studies all found no meaningful differences in overall MSAT emissions between the no-build and build alternatives for their respective projects. For more information, link to case studies on California, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota and New York. (6-22-16)

  [close]

• Videos on Air Quality Issues for Highway Planning Posted by TRB

  A series of four videos on air quality fundamentals for the highway planning process have been posted by the Transportation Research Board. The topics include an introduction, the science of air quality, traffic considerations, and air quality impact analysis. The series is intended to help viewers understand how vehicles and highway projects impact air quality at the regional and project scales. The on-demand videos are free and available to the public. For more information, link to the videos. (6-9-16) 

  [close]

• Transportation Air Quality Trends, Policies Published

  The Federal Highway Administration has published a brochure providing an overview of facts and figures related to transportation and air quality. The brochure focuses on transportation-related emissions trends, policies, technologies and standards that effect on-road mobile sources, including automobiles, light-duty trucks and heavy-duty trucks. For more information, link to the brochure. (5-3-16)

  [close]

• FHWA Publishes Air Quality and Transportation Conformity Highlights

  The Federal Highway Administration has published highlights of recent actions on air quality and transportation conformity. The highlights list announcements and recent events, research, reminders, training opportunities and contacts. The announcements include overviews of the Climate Change Adaptation Guide for Transportation Systems Management, Operations, and Maintenance: A Primer; the congestion and mitigation air quality improvement (CMAQ) cost effectiveness tables; the Framework for Better Integrating Health into Transportation Decision Making; and the 11^th National Transportation Asset Management Conference. For more information, see the highlights. (3-30-16)

  [close]

• Diesel Engine Grant Program Nets Major Air, Public Health Benefits

  The EPA has released a report showing that clean diesel grants aimed at cleaning up old diesel engines has greatly improved public health by cutting pollution that causes premature deaths, asthma attacks and missed school and workdays. The program has helped clean up approximately 335,200 tons of nitrogen oxides and 14,700 tons of particulate matter, saved 450 million gallons of fuel and prevented 4.8 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The grant program was started in 2008 and has significantly improved air quality for communities across the county by retrofitting and replacing older diesel engines. EPA estimates that clean diesel funding generates up to $13 of public health benefit for $1 spent on diesel projects. For more information, see the report. (3-23-16)

  [close]

• CMAQ Cost-Effectiveness Tables Posted by FHWA

  The Federal Highway Administration has released cost effectiveness tables to assist states, metropolitan planning organizations, and other sponsors in making efficient use of their Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) dollars. The tables represent various types of transportation projects that were previously funded under the CMAQ program. Cost-effective project types include truck stop electrification, heavy-duty vehicle engine replacements, and diesel retrofits, among others. The FHWA guidance will aid in reducing on-road vehicle emissions and traffic congestion throughout the U.S. For more information, see report. (3-18-16)

  [close]

• EPA Provides Resource on Reducing Traffic-Related Air Pollution at Schools

  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a document to give schools and parents ideas on how to reduce children’s exposure to traffic-related air pollution at schools. It offers strategies for limiting exposure, including ventilation and filtration, school siting and layout decisions, anti-idling policies, bus fleet upgrades, sound walls, vegetative barriers, and other actions staff can take. The document also contains a school ventilation checklist and links to additional resources. For more information, link to the document. (1-26-16)

  [close]

• EPA Reports on Light-duty Auto CO2 Emissions, Fuel Economy Trends Since 1975

  The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a report on light-duty automotive technology, carbon dioxide emissions, and fuel economy trends from 1975 through 2015. The report includes final data from model year 2014 and preliminary data from model year 2015. For 2014, the fleetwide average CO2 emissions rate for new vehicles is 366 grams per mile, the same as in model year 2013. The model year 2014 fuel economy value is 24.3 mpg, also unchanged from model year 2013. Preliminary model year 2015 adjusted values are 360 grams per mile CO2 emissions and 24.7 mpg fuel economy, which, if achieved, will represent record levels and an improvement over model year 2014. EPA cautioned that final data for 2015 may change, particularly because of declining gasoline prices as well as adjustments that may be required because of Volkswagen’s alleged emissions reporting violations. For more information, link to the report. (1-4-16)

  [close]

«Return to Recent Developments