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 ------- 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. ------- 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 ------- |