|
In 1977 Hillsborough
County was determined to be exceeding the federal ozone standard and was
classified as “nonattainment”. Upon the enactment of the Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1990, Congress established a link between transportation
funding and an area’s ozone status. In response to this federal action
the State Department of Environmental Protection, in coordination with
state and local transportation and air quality agencies, devised a plan
to reduce the transportation impact on the state’s air quality. Initial
provisions of this plan subjected residents of Hillsborough County to
mandatory vehicle emissions testing, and the federal government required
Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) to consider the air quality
impacts of their transportation plans.
In May 2004 EPA declared
the entire State of Florida to be attaining the federal ozone standard.
This marked the end of transportation planning mandates. Air quality is
no longer a primary consideration in the development of transportation
plans. However, the possibility of returning to ozone nonattainment
still remains. The burden of reducing public exposure to
transportation-related air pollution rests in voluntary emissions
control programs. The benefits of this multifaceted approach will
result in reduced travel time, proper vehicle maintenance and optimal
air quality.
|
