Urban Transportation: Reducing Vehicle Emissions With Transportation Control Measures
RCED-93-169
Published: Aug 03, 1993. Publicly Released: Aug 03, 1993.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the use of transportation control measures (TCM) to control automobile-source emissions, focusing on: (1) TCM effectiveness in reducing pollution; and (2) whether TCM can be implemented in areas that do not have air quality standards.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
---|---|---|
Environmental Protection Agency | The Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator, EPA, should require local areas to assess the impact of implemented TCM on reducing emissions. |
Closed – Implemented
The Department responded that it may not have statutory authority to require local areas to assess the effectiveness of implemented TCM, and that lead responsibility for such a requirement rests with EPA under the state implementation plan process. In addition to encouraging states and localities to assess the effectiveness of implemented TCM, however, DOT and EPA have issued and disseminated reports on TCM effectiveness, and provide related technical assistance to states and MPOs.
|
Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator, EPA, should require local areas to assess the impact of implemented TCM on reducing emissions. |
Closed – Implemented
EPA has followed up recent efforts to provide states and localities with methodological tools to assess the effectiveness of TCM. In addition to publishing overviews on the effectiveness of specific TCM and the techniques used to estimate their effectiveness, EPA encourages states and local areas to collect effectiveness data in order to receive emission reduction credit in their state implementation plans.
|
Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator, EPA, should cooperate in gathering and disseminating this updated information to states and localities in ozone and carbon monoxide nonattainment areas. |
Closed – Implemented
EPA has worked with DOT on a number of efforts to ensure states and localities have adequate information on TCM effectiveness. For example, EPA and DOT have completed a joint report to Congress on the effectiveness of TCM, and disseminated the report to state DOTs and air quality agencies, and MPOs. Also, EPA and DOT have funded a grant to the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) to develop and disseminate information through manuals, reports, brochures, regional conferences, and workshops. NARC will prepare a document on TCM effectiveness and develop a series of outreach/education materials for metropolitan planning organization decisionmakers.
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Environmental Protection Agency | The Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator, EPA, should cooperate in gathering and disseminating this updated information to states and localities in ozone and carbon monoxide nonattainment areas. |
Closed – Implemented
The Department of Transportation has completed a joint DOT/EPA report to Congress on the effectiveness of TCM, and disseminated the report to state DOTs and air quality agencies, and MPOs. Other DOT efforts are ongoing, including a consultant report overviewing existing literature on TCM effectiveness, and development of TCM evaluation tools.
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Topics
Air pollution controlAir qualitystate relationsFuelsHealth hazardsMotor vehicle pollution controlMotor vehiclesOzoneTraffic regulationTransportation planningUrban transportation