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https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27432/critical-issues-in-transportation-for-2024-and-beyond

HIGHWAYS AND AIR QUALITY

FROM SEPTEMBER 11 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 13, 1972, A 14-MEMBER ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS AND AIR QUALITY CREATED BY THE HIGHWAY RESEARCH BOARD CONDUCTED AN AIR QUALITY WORKSHOP IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS WERE DIVIDED INTO 4 WORKING GROUPS TO DEAL WITH THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC SUBJECTS: (1) HIGHWAY AIR QUALITY ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION; (2) SHORT-TERM CONTROL STRATEGIES; (3) IMPLICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION PLANNING; AND (4) INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING SOLUTIONS. A STUDY OF SUBJECT (1) SHOWED THAT THE INTEGRATION OF AIR POLLUTION CONTROL WITH TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND OPERATIONS REQUIRES METHODS BOTH FOR MONITORING AND FOR PREDICTING THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES ON AIR QUALITY. MEASUREMENT METHODS TO FULFILL THE MONITORING REQUIREMENT NOW EXIST, ALTHOUGH SOME QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED CONCERNING THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY SHOULD BE APPLIED TO HIGHWAYS. IN ANALYZING SUBJECT (2) IT WAS FOUND THAT THE IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR QUALITY TO BE DERIVED FROM TRANSPORTATION CONTROL STRATEGIES WILL VARY FROM CITY TO CITY, AND SPECIFIC STRATEGIES MUST BE EXAMINED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF SPECIFIC SITUATIONS. ALTHOUGH SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAFFIC FLOW CAN PRODUCE REDUCTIONS IN AIR POLLUTION, IN GENERAL SUCH TRAFFIC FLOW IMPROVEMENTS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY OTHER TRANSPORTATION CONTROL STRATEGIES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO RESTRAIN VEHICULAR VOLUMES AND BY LAND USE PLANNING THAT DECREASES THE NEED FOR VEHICULAR TRAVEL. MANDATORY INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF MOTOR VEHICLES FOR AIR POLLUTION CONTROL CAN MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO MAINTAINING AIR QUALITY. ANALYSIS OF SUBJECT (3) REVEALED THAT ALTHOUGH TRANSPORTATION CONTROLS WILL CONTINUE TO BE IMPORTANT, IN THE LONG RUN URBAN GROWTH AND LAND USE DEVELOPMENT WILL PLAY A DOMINANT ROLE IN MAINTAINING AIR QUALITY. A COMPREHENSIVE URBAN PLANNING PROCESS WILL BE REQUIRED TO FIT TRANSPORTATION GOALS AND AIR QUALITY STANDARDS INTO AN OVERAL FRAMEWORK THAT ACCOUNTS FOR ALL COMMUNITY PLANS, NEEDS, AND GOALS AND ALL OF THEIR SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS. EXISTING PLANNING MECHANISMS CAN PROVIDE A BASIS FOR BUILDING SUCH A COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS. A STUDY OF SUBJECT (4) REVEALED THAT, IF THE RELATIONS BETWEEN TRANSPORTATION AND AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ARE TO BE DEALT WITH EFFECTIVELY, A SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT IN COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION AMONG STATE, LOCAL, AND REGIONAL PLANNING, TRANSPORTATION, AND AIR POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCIES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC WILL BE ESSENTIAL. FEDERAL AGENCIES SHOULD ENCOURAGE AND, WHEREVER APPROPRIATE, REQUIRE THAT SUCH AGENCIES AND THE PUBLIC BECOME INVOLVED, NOT IN JUST AFTER-THE-FACT REVIEWS BUT FROM THE EARLY STAGES OF PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT.

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  • Publication Date: 1973

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  • Accession Number: 00224379
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Feb 27 1974 12:00AM