Assessments
 

Action Scenarios

The conformity assessment depicts the results of the Action Scenarios testing versus the budgets established for each emission level for the analysis years.  To develop the action scenarios, the base year highway network, the highway system as it existed in the model in the year 2000, is used as the starting point.  For each analysis year, the highway network is modified based on the projects to be analyzed, as identified in Attachment 1.   For each analysis year, the SJTDM is re-run with the appropriate future year demographic inputs and the modified, “action” highway network assumed in place by the analysis year.   The corresponding emissions generated are a result of both the future year demographic inputs and the new projects, or actions, added to the base network in the appropriate year.  The emissions from these “action” scenarios are then compared to the corresponding analysis year emission budgets .

Plan Conformity Determination

As all tests passed for all required years, and all related requirements were met as reviewed above, the Regional Transportation Plan complies with federal Clean Air regulations and is a conforming plan.  

Budget Tests

As was previously stated, SJTPO regional budgets anticipated under the proposed Rate of Progress Plan are used for VOC and NOX.  Budgets for the analysis years for VOC and NOX, previously stated as 2002, 2005, 2015 and 2025, are listed below.  CO budgets under the maintenance plan are evaluated at the county level to account for Atlantic City and part of Penns Grove.  CO budgets are also listed below for years 2002, 2005, 2007, 2015 and 2025. 

Budget tests were performed for VOC and NOX for the SJTPO region.  The tests show whether improvement actions, or the action scenarios, keep emissions within budget.  Results are determined by subtracting projected emissions from the budgeted amounts.  The VOC and NOX budget tests for analysis years 2002, 2005, 2015 and 2025 all passed, as seen in the Tables 7-4 and 7-5 below.

Table 7-4 - VOC Budget Test, SJTPO (tons per day)

 

2002

2005

2015

2025

Budget

17.49

13.36

13.36

13.36

Action

17.18

13.05

11.47

13.01

Budget-Action

0.31

0.31

1.89

0.35

Pass/Fail

Pass

Pass

Pass

Pass

Table 7-5 - NOx Budget Test, SJTPO (tons per day)

 

2002

2005

2015

2025

Budget

33.02

26.42

26.42

26.42

Action

31.89

25.15

18.36

18.48

Budget-Action

1.13

1.27

8.06

7.94

Pass/Fail

Pass

Pass

Pass

Pass

The CO budget tests for the analysis years 2002, 2005, 2007, 2015, and 2025 also passed and are shown in the Tables 7-6 and 7-7 below.

Table 7-6 - CO Budget Test, SJTPO Maintenance Areas

Atlantic County (tons per day)  

 

2002

2005

2007*

2015

2025

Budget

80.38

80.38

59.13

59.13

59.13

Action

50.75

45.93

45.85

45.51

51.07

Budget-Action

29.63

34.45

13.28

13.62

8.06

Pass/Fail

Pass

Pass

Pass

Pass

Pass

Table 7-7 - CO Budget Test, SJTPO Maintenance Areas

Salem County (tons per day)  

 

2002

2005

2007*

2015

2025

Budget

41.50

41.50

31.11

31.11

31.11

Action

20.48

16.90

16.94

17.11

18.91

Budget-Action

21.02

14.21

14.17

14.00

12.20

Pass/Fail

Pass

Pass

Pass

Pass

Pass

* Interpolated between 2005 and 2015