environmental facts
TRANSPORTATION CONTROLS
The basis for transportation controls
Under the Clean Air Act of 1970, all States must 'submit plans for meeting the
national ambient air quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency in
1971. Transportation control measures are required for any air quality control
region where controls on stationary sources — such as power plants and other industries--
combined with Federal new-car emission standards, are inadequate to insure attainment
or maintenance of the ambient standards.
What are transportation controls?
In general two broad types of transportation controls have been considered by the
States—those which reduce emissions from individual motor vehicles such as installing
control devices on each car, or those which reduce emissions from all vehicles as a
class, such as by restrictions on vehicle travel. Most plans submitted to EPA by the
States employ a combination of strategies to meet the required air quality standards.
The most common strategies include inspection and maintenance programs, the installation
of so-called "retrofit" devices to control automobile emissions and traffic-control
measures such as traffic-flow improvement, mass-transit improvement, parking bans,
exclusive bus lanes, car pooling, and methods to cut back the total vehicle miles
traveled.
Specific reasons for transportation control plans
To meet air quality standards, many major urban areas must control emissions from
motor vehicles to a greater extent than would be afforded by the Federal new-car
emission controls. Across the Nation, automobiles may contribute 50 percent or more of
total air pollutants, but in certain urban areas the contribution may rise as high as
90 percent. Automobiles and trucks discharge sane 97 million tons a year of carbon
monoxide alone. Of the three major pollutants attributable to fuel combustion, 70
percent of the carbon monoxide, 50 percent of the hydrocarbons, and 30 percent of the
nitrogen oxides are contributed by mobile sources in major American cities. Remember,
75 percent of all Americans live on 1.5 percent of our total land area.
A primary consideration'in formulation of transportation controls
The effectiveness of a given strategy must be weighed against alternative measures
making up the total control plan with regard both to the reduction in air pollution
it offers and the social and economic dislocation the area might suffer in the process.
Transportation controls mean a change in our, habits
This has been EPA policy and that of the States: First, we required inspection
and maintenance programs in almost every case. Secondly, we have given great weight to
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY • WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460
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encouraging changes in driving habits--and especially the Increased use of mass
transit. And, as a last choice, we have asked people to install retrofit devices
only where it is absolutely necessary to meet the requirements of the law. We are
asking people to change their habits--their long-standing and intimate relation to
the private automobile. This is a fundamental change. Much can be done, and is being
done, to reduce the emissions from individual automobiles as well as other sources of
pollutants. But we must recognize, as we have recognized in these strategies, that
the entire problem can't be solved simply by leaving it on the doorstep of the auto-
mobile. It is our use of the automobile that must be changed.
Benefits from transportation controls
Topping the list, of course, is protection of public health. Other important
benefits: a move to mass transit, coupled with changes that will reduce congestion in
our urban centers, will make our cities more livable places. Reducing driving and
shifting to more efficient mass transit will conserve energy, and inspection and
maintenance programs will keep our cars running more efficiently. These are benefits
which must be achieved if we are to survive as an urban society.
Timetable for transportation controls
August 15, 1973 All State plans approved or alternative plans promulgated
by EPA.
December 30, 1973 States must have adopted regulations, ordinances, legis-
lation, etc., to implement plans.
May 31, 1975 States must meet ambient air quality standards except where
extensions granted by EPA. Extensions may be up to two years.
Extensions approved and proposed by EPA
A 19-month extension has been approved for New York City. EPA has proposed
extensions for selected portions of control strategies for Newark and Camden-Trenton,
N.J. (2 years); Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Penn. (1 year); Los Angeles, Cal. (2 years);
Houston, Texas (2 years); and San Antonio, Texas (1 year).
Status of transportation control plans. July 1. 1973
State plans approved for Birmingham and Mobile, Ala., and for Rochester, Syracuse
and New York City, N.Y. Also, plans approved for Kansas City, Kansas; Kansas City, Mo.,
and Baton Rouge, La.
Plans disapproved by EPA as inadequate; Baltimore and the Washington, D.C. suburbs
in Maryland; and the Texas cities of El Paso, Austin-Waco, Corpus Christi, Hous ton-
Gal vest on, San Antonio, Beaumont, and Dallas-Fort Worth.
Partial disapproval: State plans for Phoenix, Ariz.; the District of Columbia;
Chicago, 111.; Portland, Ore.; Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Penn.; Salt Lake City, Utah;
Seattle and Spokane, Wash.; and the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.
Disapproval because no plans were submitted as required from California cities of
San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Indio and the San Joaquin Valley; Indianapolis, Ind.;
Boston and Springfield, Mass.; Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.; Newark and Camden-Trenton,
N.J.; Cincinnati, Dayton, and Toledo, Ohio; and Fairbanks, Alaska.
EPA has proposed transportation plans for Los Angeles and 17 other areas. They are:
Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Penn.; Boston and Springfield, Mass.; Indianapolis, Ind.;
Newark and Camben-Trenten, N.J.; Cincinnati, Dayton and Toledo, Ohio; the Texas cities of
El Paso, Austin-Waco, Corpus Christi, Houston-Galveston, San Antonio, and Dallas-Fort
Worth; and Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
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CITY
DATE
TIME
PLACE
Boston, Mass.
Springfield, Mass
Trenton, N.J.
Newark, N.J.
Ccimden, N.J.
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Minneapolis
Chicago
Cincinnati
Indianapolis
San Francisco
Sacramento
San Diego
Fresno
Spokane, Wash.
Seattle
Fairbanks
Houston
Dallas
San Antonio
Austin
El Pasp
Corpus Christi
Beaumont
July 19-20
(Not set)
July 17
July 18
July 16
July 31
July 30
July 24
July 27
July 25
July 26
Aug 8
Aug 10
Aug 7
Aug 6
July 30
July 31
Aug 1
July 17
July 17
July 17
July 18
July 18
July 19
July 17
10-4 6-9
9 AM on
9 AM on
9 AM on
10 AM on
10 AM on
9 AM on
9 AM on
9 AM on
1 AM on
9:30 on
9:30 on
9:30 on
9:30 on
7:30 PM on
7:30 PM on
7:30 PM on
9 AM on
9 AM on
9. AM on
9 AM on
9 AM on
9 AM on
9 AM on
Fanucl Hall
Springfield Technological College
Auditorium N.J. State Museum
College of Engineering
Rutgers Univ. Law School
Federal Building (Conf. Rm. B)
Federal Building (Rm. 2214-2218)
Holiday Inn Downtown
Sheraton Chicago (Kingston Room)
Terrace Hilton (Skyline Room)
Holiday Inn Downtown (Holiday Hall)
Federal Building
State Resources Building
California State Building
Fresno Convention Center
Gonzaga Univ. (Renaissance Room)
Seattle Center (Orcas Room)
Hunter Elementary School
Marriott Motor Hotel
EPA Regional Office
El Tropicana Motor Hotel
City Building (Municipal Auditorium)
El Paso Civic Center
Memorial Coliseum (Expo Hall)
Red Carpet Inn
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