Air Quality Trends Analysis

Below are abstracts for products produced by or for the Federal Highway Administration. As electronic versions become available, links will be made so that you may download them. For products not available in this manner, please contact the party listed for that abstract.

Ozone Trends in Severe and Serious Non-Attainment Areas

Abstract: This report examines the ozone emission trends in 20 areas classified by the EPA as either serious or severe for non-attainment of the ozone standard over the years 1980-1993. Trends were evaluated to determine their statistical significance and to compare the magnitude and direction of the trends on an urban, regional, and national basis. In performing the analysis several factors were considered including meteorology, geographic variations, and effects of economic growth.

Author: Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

Supporting Organization: FHWA (Office of Environment and Planning, Air Quality Technical Team)

Publication Year: 1994

Media: Report

Contact: The Office of Natural Environment

VMT Growth and Improved Air Quality: How Long Can Progress Continue?

Abstract: Air quality in the Nation's urban areas continues to improve rapidly, due largely to reductions in motor vehicles' emissions of air pollutants. Because declines in the per-mile emissions rates of motor vehicles have been so dramatic, their aggregate emissions have fallen despite rapidly increasing vehicle ownership and usage. The experience of the past twenty-five years demonstrates convincingly that increasing travel demand and improving air quality can coexist, and continued VMT growth -- particularly at the moderate rates likely to prevail in many U.S. urban areas -- need not be an insurmountable barrier to nearly universal attainment of Federal air quality standards.

Author: Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

Supporting Organization: FHWA (Office of Environment and Planning, Air Quality Technical Team)

Publication Year: 1997