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Regional Responses to Air Quality and Climate Change: The NASTO Perspective

This presentation outlines the Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials' (NASTO) perspective on regional issues, state examples, and summary of their mission. It highlights the impacts of climate change on Delaware, the District of Columbia, and Maryland, as well as their respective initiatives to mitigate these effects.

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Regional Responses to Air Quality and Climate Change: The NASTO Perspective

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  1. Regional Responses to Air Quality and Climate Change:The Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials (NASTO) Perspective Presented to the 5th Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Roundtable Friday, November 7, 2008 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Michael Baker Chairman, NASTO Air Quality Committee Pennsylvania Department of Transportation michaelba@state.pa.us

  2. Presentation Outline • NASTO • Regional Issues • NASTO State Examples • Summary

  3. Members: Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Maine Maryland Massachusetts New Hampshire New Jersey New York Ontario Pennsylvania Quebec Rhode Island Vermont Who / What is NASTO???

  4. NASTO Mission • Advancement of transportation policies and practices beneficial to the Northeast Region of the U.S. and the Eastern Provinces of Canada. • Focal point for discussion and research on transportation issues of interest to members. • Strong emphasis on promoting cooperation and partnership.

  5. Selected NASTO Member Examples

  6. Delaware • Situation • Tidal coastline of 381 miles: 357 miles on the Delaware Bay. • Since 1900 • Sea level rose 12 inches in the 1900s, Forecast another 23 inches by 2100. • Avg. temperature up 1.9º F Precipitation up 10% • Impacts • Flooding: Emergency Evacuation Routes, local roads • Travel disruptions • Higher levels of ground level ozone and other photochemical pollutants • Increase in roadway incidents due to storms.

  7. DE Climate Action Plan • Initiated 1998 via Climate Change Consortium. • DE Energy Office w/ US EPA, Univ. of DE. • Base year and future year forecasts. • Unchecked, DE CO2 emissions would increase 22% from 1988 to 2010 (to 20 MMT). • Adopted a GHG reduction target. • 7% below the 1990 base year by 2010 (23% reduction by 2010)

  8. Effects of Sea Level Rise on Land Area By 2100 if GHG unchecked: • Loss of red and orange areas. • Impact land use, coastal roadway network. • Increased salinity in Delaware Bay – salt water intrusion • Paved surfaces – roadway failures. • Agricultural losses. • Water supply issues.

  9. Effects of Sea Level Rise on Land Area (cont’d) • Three main evacuation routes partially or completely submerged by 100 year flood events. • Improve infrastructure. • Add/modify evacuation routes & plans. • Increased frequency and duration of storms • Increased likelihood of coastal flooding events. • More accidents/incidents. • Retrofit drainage system.

  10. DelDOT Plans • Inventory flood-prone bridges &roadways. • Develop action plan for necessary improvements. • Infrastructure Sensors • Monitor physical condition & shifts in climate. • Rethink Transportation Design Standards • Increase drainage capacity for projects. • Develop heat resistant materials / standards for bridges and roadways. • Land Use / Transportation • Avoid vulnerable locations.

  11. District of Columbia Through Metro Washington Council of Gov’ts. Regional Climate Change Steering Cmte (April 2007) • Regional GHG Inventory • ID Best Practices & Policies • Examine Impacts • Recommend GHG Reduction Goals • Recommend Governance Structures for CC • Propose Advocacy Positions • Public Comment in Process for Draft Report (July 2008)

  12. District of Columbia • MWCOG Draft Report Recommendations • GHG Reduction Goals • 10% below BAU by 2010 • 20% below 2005 by 2020 • 80% below 2005 by 2050 • Transportation Measures Recommended • Reduce VMT • Smart Growth • Alternative fuels • Tree Canopy • Fuel Efficiency • Comprehensive Planning • Finance • Outreach

  13. District of Columbia • Petition to join Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) • Clean Cars Act of 2008 (dep. on EPA waiver to CA) • Green Building Act of 2006 • LEED Silver for city projects > 10,000 SF • ’09 - ‘11: Green Building Checklist for private commercial projects > 50,000 SF • ‘12: LEED Silver standard for private commercial projects > 50,000 SF

  14. District of Columbia • Green Jobs Program • Leverage “green” job training, job placement & contract opportunities • Clean & Affordable Energy Act of 2008 • Sustainable / Renewable Energy Sources - 20% by 2020 • Energy Efficiency & Retrofits • “Green Collar” Workforce Development

  15. D.C. Ongoing Efforts • D.C. Green Agenda • Joined Climate Registry (June 2006) • Joined Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement, US Conference of Mayors (Jan 2007) • GHG inventory – 2005 base year • Establishing baseline for reductions with ICLEI • Energy Audits of all facilities in progress • Green Roofs • Tree Planting Program

  16. MD Climate Change Commission (convened 2008) Long term effort w/ annual reports. Recommend goals, actions, timetable actions to Governor, Legislature Major MD concerns: Rise of coastal waters Loss of aquatic life (impacts to oysters, rockfish and the bay ecosystem) Potential for extreme weather conditions Subtropical Chesapeake Bay More …….. Maryland

  17. Maryland 4,360 miles of tidal shoreline. Avg. temperature in College Park increased 2.4° since 1900. Chesapeake Bay Sea level up 1 foot in 100 yrs. 13 islands already lost. Sea level projected to rise additional 2 – 3 feet by 2100.

  18. Current MDOT Measures with GHG Reductions • MD Clean Car (dep. on EPA waiver to CA) • On-Going VMT Reduction Strategies: --Park and Ride -- GRH -- Transit Expansion -- Ridesharing -- Telecommuting -- Bike/Ped Projects • On-Going Emission Reduction Strategies (Non-VMT Based): -- Idling reductions -- Bio-diesel -- ITS -- Tree Planting -- Clean Diesel Locomotives -- Hybrid Buses -- Truck Stop Electrification

  19. Transportation / Land Use Policy Options • VMT Reduction Measures • Land Use and Location Efficiency (Including VMT Reduction Goals) • Transit • Intercity Travel: Aviation, Rail, Bus • Pay-as-you-drive Insurance • Bike / Ped Infrastructure • Pricing Measures (Including Carbon Fuel Tax) • Evaluate GHG Impacts of Projects • Reduce Carbon per Unit of Fuel • Low GHG Fuel Standard (not recommended for immediate implementation) • Reduce Carbon per Mile and/or per Hour • Vehicle Technologies

  20. Preliminary Total Reduction Goals (below 2006 emissions) • Consideration expected in 2008 Legislative Session • Goals • Measures • Timeframes • Commission Annual Report each November.

  21. New Jersey Global Warming Response Act Signed by Governor Jon S. Corzine on July 6, 2007. Targets: • 1990 levels by 2020. • 80% below 2006 levels by 2050. NJDEP lead on GHG Plan • NJDOT and Other departments collaborating. • Plan under development.

  22. NJ Potential Transport Strategies Vehicle Efficiency • LEV Vehicle Program (dep. on EPA waiver to CA) • Incentives for Purchase/Use of Highly Efficient Vehicles. • “Green” the State-Owned Fleet. • Diesel Idling Infrastructure Alternatives. • Encourage Efficient Trucks.

  23. NJPotential Transport Strategies Carbon Intensity of Fuels • Low Carbon Fuel Standard. • Promote Residential Equipment to Facilitate and Support the Non-Liquid Transport Fuels. • CNG • Electric

  24. NJPotential Transport Strategies VMT Reduction Targets • VMT Target: Annual VMT Growth < 1 % • “Green VMT” Target: • 50 percent of the overall NJ VMT by “green vehicles*” by 2020. • Green Vehicles: CA GHG score 9 or better (≤ 239 grams/mile CO2 e)

  25. NJPotential Transport Strategies Additional Transportation Strategies • Maintain Existing Transit, Expand Capacity. • Traffic Management • “Green Corridors” Pilot Study • Strengthen, expand Commuter Option Programs • Invest in freight rail infrastructure • Implement “Rail Shuttle” Projects Shift some freight movements from trucks to rail.

  26. New Jersey Challenges and Issues • VMT • How meet proposed goal ? • Metrics • Develop effective method to measure “Carbon Footprint” of transportation activities ? • Decision Making • Weigh GHG vs. other issues (system preservation, safety, congestion relief, etc.) in project selection ? • Financing • How incorporate green incentives and long-term stability ?

  27. New York State • General Approach • Think Globally, Act Locally • Consider Vehicle Technology, Fuels, VMT • States have greatest opportunity to affect GHG via VMT / Demand Issues • Support Vehicle Technology & Fuel Improvements • Cumulative Effect of Small Actions.

  28. Already doing many of these Should do more Quantify improvements Institutionalize energy/climate change awareness Mass transit Emissions reporting Traffic signals Freight management Managed lanes Smart growth/land use Idle reduction Commuter Choice Air quality education Alternative fuels Research New York State

  29. New York State • NY only state to Report Energy and GHG emissions for adoption of TIPs and Long Range Plans • Results to Date: • ~ 11% improvement v. business- as-usual. • Examines GHG and Energy in Project Alternative Selection • Modeling Improvements Needed.

  30. New York State Actions • Commuter Choice • Downstate $30 million / 3 years. • AQ Education & Outreach • $6 million / 4 years • 3.13% VMT reduction on AQ Action Days

  31. New York State NYSDOT Climate Change/Energy Efficiency Team Goals: • Reduce energy costs for public • Promote energy efficient programs & projects • Reduce NYSDOT’s carbon footprint 5 Workgroups ~ 70 people • Transp. Partners • NYSDOT Vehicles • Fuel • Adaptation • Outreach

  32. New York State • Workgroup Recommendations (June ’08) • Compressed work week: NYSDOT employees • NYS version of Gulf Coast Study • TIP direction to include GHG, CC, energy • Involvement with RGGI • Collaboration with other agencies: • NYSDEC, NYSERDA, FHWA, more

  33. New York State • GHG goal: 10% reduction in 10 years • Integration with: • Governors Renewable Fuels Task Force • NYSDEC (lead state agency) • State Energy Plan & Governor’s Exec. Order

  34. Pennsylvania • Energy Independence Strategy (2007) • Renewable Fuels initiative ($650 million) • Climate Change Advisory Committee • Senate Bill 266 of 2007. • Ongoing Energy Efforts.

  35. Pennsylvania • Initiatives In Place: • Climate Change Advisory Committee • Action plan due Oct 2009 and triennially thereafter • Include scientific predictions, impacts, economic opportunities, mitigation measures • PA Clean Car (pend. EPA waiver to CA) • HDDV Anti-Idling Regulation • State Biofuels Plan (SB 22) • Targets for Biodiesel, Cellulostic Ethanol > U.S. Energy Independence & Security Act ‘07 • Local Gov’t Pilot Grants

  36. Pennsylvania • PennDOT Ongoing Activities • Transit Operations, Capital Support • Alt. Fuels for Transit Vehicles • TMA Program – Encourage Demand Mgm’t. • CMAQ-funded Projects • Alt. fuels, vehicle technology, congestion mitigation, transit services & vehicles, TDM. • Rideshare / Carpool Programs • Smart Transportation / Growth • Traffic Signal Prioritization • Right Sizing

  37. Special Thanks Contributors: Mark Glaze, DelDOT Howard Simons, MDOT Mark Rawlings, DDOT Andy Swords, NJDOT John Zamurs, NYSDOT Howard Simons, MDOT Bob Kaiser, Michael Baker Jr., Inc.

  38. Questions? Michael Baker Chairman, NASTO Air Quality Committee Pennsylvania Department of Transportation michaelba@state.pa.us

  39. National Issues • Greenhouse Gases (CO2 and others): global warming, causing climate change. • Primarily from fossil fuel consumption. • GHG emissions are increasing • Partic. electricity & transportation. • 3 Areas of Concern: • Mitigation (reduce GHG emissions &future impacts) • Adaptation (accommodate likely impacts) • Science and Research • Total overall GHG reductions needed from 1990 Base to contain CC: • ~ 10 - 20% by 2020 • ~ 60 - 80% by 2050

  40. National Focus • AASHTO “Primer on Climate Change” • AMPO Reports, Articles • Transportation Research Board (TRB) Reports • FHWA and EPA research, reports • Many other efforts

  41. Climate Change Impacts • Rising Sea Levels • Threaten cities, infrastructure, agriculture, habitat. • Weather Events - More often & frequent • Flooding & other natural disasters • Loss of homes, businesses, infrastructure, land. • Significant retrofit effort. • Temperature Increases / Weather Changes • Agriculture, forestry, species threatened. • Infrastructure threats & operational costs due to heat.

  42. GHG Emissions Projections Gasoline Vehicles Other Fuels Electricity Source: US EPA, 2008

  43. Transportation GHG Emissions • Transportation accounts for: • 28% of GHG equivalents; 33% of CO2 • Highway vehicles - 78% of transportation GHG emissions. Source: 2004 U.S. Sector Emissions of CO2 Energy Information Agency, Annual Energy Outlook 2005

  44. Highway Vehicle CO2 Growth TrendIncludes 2007 Energy Independence & Security Act Sources: FHWA, AEO 08, Michael Baker Jr., Inc.

  45. Regional Initiatives • Activity to date by states and cities Plus:Many MPOs 850 Cities - Mayor’s Climate Plan

  46. NASTO Total State GHG Goals

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