A transportation/air quality research agenda for the 1990's

TLDR: Guensler and Geraghty as mentioned in this paper presented the state of uncertainty in different transportation and air quality issues, the importance of clarifying and resolving these issues, and the general areas of research and potential projects that may be proposed during Fiscal Years 1991-1996 to address these uncertainties.

Abstract: Author(s): Guensler, Randall L; Geraghty, Anne B | Abstract: Presented at the Air and Waste Management Association 84th Annual Meeting a Exhibition, Vancouver, British ColumbiaWith the passage of the California Clean Air Act (CCAA) of 1988 and the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA) amendments of 1990, there is significant interest on the part of federal, state, and local agencies in research that will provide accurate methods to evaluate the emission reduction effectiveness of transportation strategies. The results of such research would be used to design projects and packages that would reduce transportation related emissions in the most cost-effective manner.Determining what research projects should be undertaken in a resource constrained environment is a difficult task. Regulators must determine which research projects are likely to result in the most useful information, but they face this task without knowing specifically what current methodologies and assumptions result in the greatest estimation uncertainty. General difficulties in targeting the most effective research areas is coupled with the fact that emission inventory expertise incorporates two distinctly separate areas: knowledge of vehicle activity and vehicle emissions rates.This report describes the state of uncertainty in different transportation and air quality issues, the importance of clarifying and resolving these issues, and the general areas of research and potential projects that may be proposed during Fiscal Years 1991-1996 to address these uncertainties. We consider this paper to be a starting point for discussion, from which a full research agenda is likely to be prepared.This paper describes the emission inventory for motor vehicles and discusses the importance and relevance of the emission modeling methodologies to the ultimate research efforts. Five analytical sections follow: vehicle emission rates, vehicle activity: transportation control measure analysis, the relationship between land use, transportation, and air quality, and advanced highway technologies. A description of the policy concerns facing regulatory agencies is then addressed. Finally, conclusions are presented and short term recommendations are provided for consideration.