EPA Ozone Rule Could Pose Challenges On Transportation Conformity, Planners Say

摘要

Transportation planning officials in two of the largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. said more stringent national ozone standards would make it more challenging to demonstrate transportation conformity, a process that must be completed in order for new transportation projects to receive federal highway funding. Officials with metropolitan planning organizations in Los Angeles and Houston told Bloomberg BNA that while they have a history of success in maintaining transportation conformity, more stringent ozone standards would likely require further technological advancements in order for those areas to meet tightened mobile source emissions budgets. Transportation and environmental officials in other major metropolitan areas, including New York and Washington, D.C., were more confident in their ability to demonstrate conformity but acknowledged that stronger ozone standards could pose challenges to smaller metropolitan areas that may not have the resources or technical knowledge to handle the complicated conformity process.