Linking Transportation and Air Quality Planning: Implementation of the Transportation Conformity Regulations in 15 Nonattainment Areas

Climate Change Clearinghouse1999PDFTech ReportHowitt, Arnold M.Moore, Elizabeth M.John F. Kennedy School of GovernmentUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUnited States. Environmental Protection AgencyUnited States. Environmental Protection AgencyUnited StatesAir pollutionAir qualityComplianceInvestmentsProgramming (Planning)RegulationsStandardsTransportation planningNonattainment areasClimate changeClean Air Act AmendmentsConformityEPA420-R-99-011The Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) of 1990 require far-reaching efforts under the "transportation conformity" regulations to assure that transportation investments in nonattainment and maintenance areas are consistent with state commitments to meet national air pollution standards. This research documents how these regulations were implemented during the period 1991 through January 1998. Three questions have organized the study. How has conformity affected key agencies and constituencies' organizational capacity and relationships? How has conformity changed the transportation planning/programming process and its results? How has conformity changed air quality planning and regulation?109