Department of Environment & Conservation
Jim Fyke, Commissioner

Tools and Resources - Reducing Emissions from Mobile Sources

2. REDUCING EMISSIONS FROM MOBILE SOURCES

2a. General Mobile Source Information

Transportation and Fuels - This EPA web page provides links to information about air pollution from motor vehicles, boats and ships, trains, aircrafts, and the fuels that they use. You can also find out about travel choices that minimize emissions.

EPA's Transportation and Air Quality Center - (TRAQ) provides state and local air quality regulators and transportation planners with access to critical information regarding transportation and mobile source incentive-based programs and tools, partnership opportunities, grant funding sources, useful contact names, and technical assistance

The Federal Highway Administration has an air quality page on its web site with links to a variety of transportation and air quality topics.

Transportation Air Quality – Selected Facts and Figures - This brochure from the Federal Highway Administration provides an overview of facts and figures regarding the linkages between transportation and air quality. The focus of this brochure is primarily on transportation-related emission trends, policies, technologies, and standards that affect on-road mobile sources including automobiles, light-duty trucks, and heavy-duty trucks.

2b. Transportation Control Measures

This Federal Highway Administration page has a link to information on transportation control measures, which are designed to reduce transportation-related emissions by reducing vehicle use or improving traffic flow.

EPA also has a page on transportation control measures.

2c. Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ)

The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement or CMAQ program is a funding source for transportation projects that enhance air quality and ease traffic congestion. Although the primary goal of the CMAQ program is to fund transportation projects that improve air quality, many of the projects also help to reduce traffic congestion and increase mobility options. The CMAQ program funds all of the types of projects discussed previously that improve mobility: traffic flow improvements, transit services, HOV lanes and other shared-ride services, intermodal projects, and bicycle and pedestrian projects, among others.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Transportation and Air Quality Planning Office provides Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) Assessments, including "Summary Review of Costs and Emissions Information for 24 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program Projects" on this web site.

2d. Transportation Conformity

Transportation conformity is required by the Clean Air Act section 176(c) (42 U.S.C. 7506(c)) to ensure that federal funding and approval are given to highway and transit projects that are consistent with ("conform to") the air quality goals established by a state air quality implementation plan (SIP). The U.S. Department of Transportation cannot fund, authorize, or approve Federal actions to support programs or projects which are not first found to conform to Clean Air Act requirements. The transportation conformity process is intended to ensure that transportation plans, programs, and projects will not cause new air quality violations, worsen existing violations, or delay timely attainment of the national ambient air quality standards. Click here for EPA’s conformity.

2e. Commuter Benefits (provided by employers to employees)

Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM is a new public-private sector voluntary program advocating employee commuter benefits. Providing commuter benefits helps employers address limited or expensive parking, reduce traffic congestion, improve employee recruiting and retention, and minimize the environmental impacts associated with drive-alone commuting. Participating companies earn the designation "Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM"—a mark of excellence for environmentally and employee-friendly organizations. The program builds on the efforts of many top employers to help get employees to work safely, on time, and free of commute-related stress. It provides the tools, guidance, and promotion necessary to help U.S. employers of any size incorporate commuter benefits into their standard benefits plan, reap financial benefits, and gain national recognition.

Commuter Choice is a nationwide partnership between business and government designed to help employers and employees create customized solutions to commuting challenges. CommuterChoice.com has been developed and currently is maintained by the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) and Transportation Demand Management Institute (TDMI). Funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Transportation, and TDMI, the CommuterChoice.com website provides an open service to employers, commuters, and Commuter Choice service providers. The organization’s mission is to help employers connect with service providers in their local areas, who can help implement relevant Commuter Choice programs at their worksites.

2f. Reducing Diesel Emissions

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program addresses pollution from diesel construction equipment and heavy-duty vehicles that are currently in use. This web site is designed to help fleet operators, air quality planners in state/local government and retrofit manufacturers understand this program and obtain the information they need to create effective retrofit projects.

This web site includes EPA's summary of currently available idle reduction technologies for heavy-duty diesel engines in tracks and locomotives. The term "idle reduction technology" refers to a technology that allows engine operators to refrain from long-duration idling of the main propulsion engine by using an alternative technology.

The Sacramento Emergency Clean Air and Transportation (SECAT) program helps truck owners and fleet operators reduce their vehicle emissions in a business-friendly manner through a partnership between local government, clean air professionals, local businesses, and manufacturers to tackle the problem of air pollution from heavy-duty diesel trucks. Select "Heavy-Duty Diesel Emissions Calculator".

SmartWay Transport is a voluntary partnership between various freight industry sectors and EPA that establishes incentives for fuel efficiency improvements and greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Clean School Bus USA is a new national partnership of business, education, transportation, and public health organizations to minimize pollution from school buses. The goal of Clean School Bus USA is to reduce both children's exposure to diesel exhaust and the amount of air pollution created by diesel school buses by eliminating unnecessary school bus idling, installing effective emission control systems on newer buses and replacing the oldest buses in the fleet with newer ones.

“What You Should Know About Diesel Exhaust and School Bus Idling” from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The Diesel Technology Forum is dedicated to raising awareness about the economic importance and essential uses of diesel engines, highlighting the continuous improvements in fuel efficiency and emissions and continuing progress to reduce the environmental impact of the existing fleet of diesel engines.

2g. Nonroad Sources

EPA Nonroad Vehicles and Equipment - This web page provides links to information about air pollution from such sources as diesel farm and construction equipment, lawn and garden equipment, aircraft, trains, recreational vehicles, and boats, ships, and personal watercraft.

2h. Alternative Fuels

The U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center is a one-stop shop for all your alternative fuel and vehicle information needs. This site has more than 3,000 documents in its database, an interactive fuel station mapping system, listings of available alternative fuel vehicles, links to related web sites, and much more.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency promotes the use of environmentally beneficial alternative fuels and vehicles by providing the states with tools, such as benefits models, State Implementation Plan credits, and the Clean Fuels Fleet program.

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/fuels/altfuels/altfuels.htm<

The U. S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities Program supports public-private partnerships that deploy alternative fuel vehicles and build supporting alternative fuel infrastructure. This site features information about local coalitions and clean corridors, alternative fuel news and events, fleet success stories, support and funding, tips for starting a coalition in your area, available alternative fuel vehicles and related links.

The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium strives to improve air quality and decrease dependence on foreign oil by promoting, supporting and expanding the use of alternative fuel vehicles. The Center provides training for automotive trainers, technicians and others in the alternative fuel vehicle field, and educates consumers about alternative fuel vehicles.

The East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition (ETCFC) works to reduce dependence on foreign oil and improve regional air quality and sustainability. The ETCFC is a participant in the U.S. Department of Energy's national Clean Cities program, which works toward these goals by furthering the use of alternatives to gasoline and diesel in the transportation sector.

Clean Cities of Middle Tennessee (CCMT) is an alternative fuels coalition dedicated to finding clean domestic alternatives to foreign petroleum. CCMT is based on the Clean Cities program started by the U.S. Department of Energy in 1990. The coalition includes local utilities, fuel providers, government agencies, auto manufactures, private individuals and other non-profit organizations.

2i. Purchasing Clean Vehicles

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Green Vehicle Guide helps consumers choose the cleanest ad most efficient vehicle that meets their needs. The Guide rates cars and trucks according to their emissions and fuel economy performance and provides consumers with information on how to make environmentally informed choices when purchasing a vehicle.