CMAQ in the States: A Preliminary Assessment of the CMAQ Program's Contribution towards Meeting Ozone Standards. Selected State Profiles.

摘要

The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program provides funds to states for projects designed to help metropolitan areas attain and maintain the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). Projects eligible for CMAQ funding include transportation control measures (TCMs), public transit, and inspection and maintenance (I&M) programs. Eligibility has recently been expanded to include outreach activities, experimental pilot projects/innovative financing, and fare/fee subsidy programs. The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) created the CMAQ program in 1991, and Congress is now considering reauthorization of ISTEA. The objective of this analysis is to estimate the potential contribution of the CMAQ program in helping ozone non-attainment areas to move toward attainment of the NAAQS for ozone. Each state containing an ozone non-attainment area classified as serious or above is required to prepare a plan demonstrating how it will achieve a 9-percent rate-of-progress (ROP) reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOC) over the three year period, 1997 to 1999. The 9-percent rate of progress plan for each non-attainment area must be included as part of the State Implementation Plan (SIP). This study compares emission reductions projected for CMAQ projects in specific states against the required 3-percent per year reduction for their non-attainment areas.