GOAL:
Implement the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments to change the transportation system and enhance air quality.

OBJECTIVE:
Promote clean alternative fuels and encourage transportation system redesign that reduces reliance on the single-occupant vehicle.

STATUS & TRENDS:
The fueling and operation of the automobile and truck fleet results in an estimated 750,000 tons of carbon monoxide and other toxic and ozone forming pollutants annually. Major State programs for vehicle emission inspection, gasoline vapor recovery at t he bulk delivery level and limiting the evaporative properties of gasoline used in the summer months have been instituted. Significant efforts to reduce vehicle miles traveled have also been attempted in the form of transit use promotion and ridesharing including the construction of high occupancy vehicle lanes. Repairing critical rail links would benefit this effort by providing a functional light rail intrastate transportation network. Programs such as these have reduced pollutant levels, but the Sta te is still far from attaining the ozone standard and the public is still at significant risk from exposure to other transportation system caused by pollutants and toxics. Continued growth in the vehicle miles traveled on the State's highway system is ov erriding the progress made to date and major efforts to control both growth and emissions is necessary.

STRATEGIES:

1. Adopt regulations pursuant to the 1990 federal Clean Air Act amendments requiring fuels that cause fewer pollutants when handled and burned (reformulated and oxygenated gasoline).
2. Require or promote the utilization of vehicles with very low emission rates and clean alternate fuels such as natural gas, propane and methanol through requirements that fleet operators incorporate low emission vehicles into fleets.
3. Enhance existing efforts promoting transit and ridesharing through cooperative efforts with DOT and employers and include these measures in the State Implementation Plans required pursuant to the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments.
4. Develop an integrated least cost approach to transportation planning and development that considers environmental and other costs and recognizes the air quality and other limits to continued growth in vehicle miles traveled and supports long term chan ges in land use and economic development patterns.
5. Reduce the public health impact of the operation and fueling of the State's motor vehicle fleet through adoption of Stage 11 vapor recovery requirements and an enhanced inspection and maintenance program.
6. Expand and encourage the addition of critical rail lines which would provide a functional light rail intrastate transportation network by requiring its consideration as alternative in all transportation planning.