Transportation Conformity |
Transportation Conformity is a federal requirement in nonattainment areas to conduct air quality analysis on projects, programs, and policies identified in transportation plans, transportation improvement programs, federally funded projects, or projects requiring federal approval. Conformity determinations must demonstrate consistency between emissions expected from the implementation of transportation plans and programs and Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets (MVEBs) in the applicable implementation plan. To meet this criterion, conformity determinations in nonattainment areas with adequate MVEBs from an applicable State Implementation Plan (SIP), must perform a MVEB test. For the MVEB test, the emissions analysis must demonstrate the estimated emissions are less than the MVEBs in the applicable implementation plan. The determination of the analysis is a two-step process in metropolitan areas. The first step is for the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to make the initial transportation conformity determination at the local level. For the North Central Texas nonattainment area, this responsibility falls with the Regional Transportation Council (RTC), the MPO’s policy body. The second step is for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to make a joint transportation conformity determination at the federal level. Upon favorable federal approval, a four-year window begins during which projects, programs, and policies identified in the Metropolitan Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Program may move toward implementation. 2018 Transportation Conformity Analysis and Documentation
Resources:
2015 8-hour Ozone NAAQS Nonattainment Designations NEW! EPA 2015 8-hour Ozone NAAQS Designations Publication in Federal Register NEW! Nonattainment Designations Letter to Governor Greg Abbott NEW! EPA 2015 8-hour Ozone NAAQS Final Rule NEW!
Previous Conformity Determination Letters
DFW Nonattainment Area Conformity Milestones
Transportation Conformity: A Basic Guide for State & Local Officials |
