Air Quality Contacts
For more information, please contact Victoria Martinez (787-771-2524).
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The FHWA is continuing to develop a series of tools to provide technical support for the implementation of the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program. CMAQ project justifications, as well as annual reporting, require reliable air quality benefit estimates. This CMAQ Emission Reductions Calculator is offered as an additional resource to assist DOTs, MPOs, and project sponsors in the project justification process. Agencies using an existing methodology to generate emissions benefits can continue their current practice. A new module is available for Transit Bus Retrofits/Replacement, which supplements the existing modules on Traffic Flow Improvements, the Advanced Diesel Truck/Engine Technologies, Alternative Fuels and Vehicles, and Carpooling/Vanpooling. Other modules planned for release in 2018 include Transit Bus Service/Fleet Expansion, Diesel Idle Reduction Technologies, and Bicycle/Pedestrian Improvements. All modules are available on the FHWA CMAQ Emissions Calculator Toolkit webpage. For more information, please contact Mark Glaze at Mark.Glaze@dot.gov or (202) 366-4053.
A recent FHWA white paper, Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Highway Resilience, serves as an input to an upcoming round of regional peer exchanges on nature-based solutions for coastal highway resilience. The white paper constitutes an incremental step toward developing an implementation guide for using nature-based solutions to improve the resilience of coastal highways to extreme events and sea level rise. While nature-based solutions have been used extensively across a diverse array of coastal settings, they have not yet been commonly deployed within the transportation sector. This white paper serves to bridge this gap in transportation sector awareness by providing examples of nature-based solutions and highlighting the best-available science for the performance of these solutions regarding coastal highways' resilience. For information on the peer exchanges, past webinars, and related resources, please refer to the Nature-Based Resilience for Coastal Highways page for the Office of Environment.
FHWA will partner with eleven transportation agencies on projects to improve the resilience and durability of transportation infrastructure across the country. The projects will each address one or more of three areas related to deploying resilience solutions: integrating resilience and durability into agency practices; using available tools and resources to assess the vulnerability and risk of transportation projects or systems; and/or deploying a resilience solution and monitoring performance. The projects will run for two to six years, depending on project type. For descriptions of the projects, see the FHWA Resilience and Durability Pilots webpage.
FHWA released a new set of compiled Case Studies in Realizing Co-Benefits of Multimodal Roadway Design and Gray and Green Infrastructure. This compilation highlights projects that contribute to safe and connected pedestrian and bicycle networks in States and communities throughout the U.S., while promoting resiliency and relieving burdens on stormwater systems through green and gray infrastructure. The 14 case studies included in the report are organized in four categories: (1) Mitigating Flood Risk, (2) Public-Private Partnerships, (3) Multimodal Network Connectivity, and (4) State and Locally Driven Projects.
The US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) updated the Diesel Retrofit and Replacement guidance. This document provides guidance on quantifying and using emission reductions from highway and nonroad diesel vehicles, engines, and equipment that have been retrofitted. The guidance discusses how emission reductions from diesel retrofit projects can be used in a SIP and in transportation conformity and general conformity determinations, based on the MOVES2014a methodology described in this guidance. There is also a spreadsheet-based tool that simplifies the creation of a nonroad retrofit input table by creating a template for that table and then filling that table based on user input. Instructions are included with the tool.
The National Transit Institute (NTI) is offering three in-person training opportunities covering its “Introduction to Transportation Conformity” course. This 2.5 day course will present basic information about conformity requirements and the relationship of the transportation and air quality planning processes in order to prepare agency staff (federal, state and local) to participate in interagency consultation and work effectively in resolving conformity issues. For more information, please visit the course website. Trainings are scheduled for:
The US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Transportation and Air Quality has scheduled three MOVES2014a Hands-on Training sessions:
Use the contact information above to register and get more information. For general information about the content of the course, future course offerings, etc., contact the MOVES Team at mobile@epa.gov.
The latest version of MOVES2014a is available via the EPA MOVES2014A website. Course materials can also be downloaded prior to attending the course.
The FHWA posted a 27-minute YouTube video on the CMAQ program. The video provides a basic introduction to the program, how CMAQ funds are distributed to states, and the types of projects eligible for the CMAQ program. The training is available via the FHWA’s YouTube channel here. For more information about the CMAQ program, please contact Mark Glaze at mark.glaze@dot.gov or (202) 366-4053.
The FHWA Resource Center Planning and Air Quality team will be conducting a series of training sessions on NEPA Air Quality Analysis for Highway Projects. The training includes sessions on project-level applications appropriate for managers and practitioners, as well as hands-on sessions intended for modelers. Please note this is not a general MOVES training course, but is focused on project-level applications. It is not intended to address regional applications, such as SIP emissions inventories or regional (plan and TIP) conformity analyses. If you are interested in this training, please contact Michael Claggett at michael.claggett@dot.gov.
Two training opportunities are available for MOVES model users. A three-hour webinar provides an introduction to MySQL Query Browser and MOVES interface. A six-hour training over two days will enable users to do MySQL programming and to write their own MySQL scripts and to manipulate MySQL databases including MOVES input and outputs. For more information or to schedule training, please contact Paul Heishman at Paul.Heishman@dot.gov.
The National Highway Institute (NHI) Air Quality Planning web-based training series is designed for transportation practitioners. It includes four modules: Clean Air Act Overview (FHWA-NHI-142068), State Implementation Plan (SIP) and Transportation Control Measure (TCM) Requirements and Policies (FHWA-NHI-142069), SIP Development Process (FHWA-NHI-142070), and Transportation Conformity (FHWA-NHI-142071). All courses are free. For more information, visit the NHI website and search “Air Quality Planning,” or look for the specific course number. Please contact Karen Perritt at (202) 366-9066, or Karen.Perritt@dot.gov with any questions or comments.
FHWA’s Resource Center Air Quality Technical Services Team is available to offer MOVES and other trainings. More information is available at the Resource Center website.
The Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Framework, Third Edition, provides transportation agencies and their partners with a structured process for assessing vulnerabilities to extreme weather and other environmental conditions, and for identifying ways to protect, preserve, and improve transportation assets and services. Please contact Rebecca Lupes at Rebecca.Lupes@dot.gov for additional details.
FHWA recently published two case studies as part of a series on Addressing Resilience in Project Development: the first covering adaptation approaches to handle permafrost in Alaska, and the second describing environmental and economic analyses to identify wildfire and rainfall risks that impact the design of a culvert in Colorado.
FHWA recently published the Quick Guide: FHWA Requirements for Renewable Energy Projects in Highway Right-of-Way. This guide points transportation agencies to the relevant regulations, including 23 CFR 645, Accommodation of Utilities, if the state Utility Accommodation Policy considers renewable energy projects as utility facilities that serve the public, or 23 CFR 710 Right-of-Way Use Agreements otherwise.
On February 16, 2018, the D.C. Circuit issued a decision in South Coast Air Quality Management District v. EPA. The decision covers many topics including the revocation of the 1997 ozone NAAQS and associated conformity requirements. Please contact Cecilia Ho at 202-366-9862 or cecilia.ho@dot.gov.
FHWA recently completed the second round of designations for the Alternative Fuels Corridor program. With the designation of these corridors, FHWA is continuing to establish a national network of alternative fueling and charging infrastructure along national highway system corridors. Visit the Alternative Fuels Corridor website to learn more.
Past issues of the Air Quality and Sustainability Highlights are available on FHWA’s website:
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/air_quality/conformity/highlights/ or
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sustainability/newsletter/.
Please e-mail Victoria.Martinez@dot.gov with any suggestions for future issues.
