U.S. Department
of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
MA Division
55 Broadway 101h Floor
Cambridge, MA 02142-1093
617-494-3657
617-494-3355 (fax)
Federal Transit Administration
Region I
55 Broadway Suite 920
Cambridge, MA 02142-1093
617-494-2055
617-494-2865 (fax)
October 12, 2012
Richard A. Davey
Secretary and Chief Executive Officer
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
10 Park Plaza, Suite 3170
Boston, MA 02116
Re: Massachusetts Air Quality Conformity Determinations
Dear Secretary Davey:
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration
(FTA) have completed the air quality conformity reviews of the amendment to the
Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization's Regional Transportation Plan
(RTP) and the FY 2013-2016 Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs) for the ten
MPOs and the three non-metropolitan regions in Massachusetts. The review was
conducted in accordance with the Statewide and Metropolitan Transportation Planning
and Programming Regulations, and the Transportation Conformity Regulations.
Based on the joint evaluation of the air quality analyses of the RTPs and TIPs, the
recommendations received from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on
September 13, 2012 and October 10, 2012, the concurrence received from the
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on September 6, 2012
(attached), the independent determinations made by the MPOs and the three non­
metropolitan regions, FHWA and FTA have determined that the RTPs and TIPs are
currently in conformity with the goals ofthe State Implementation Plan and are
c.onsistent with the Clean-Air AGt and the EPA Gonforrnity regulations, in accordance
with 40 CFRparts 51 and 93. The conformity determinations ofthe RTPs and the TIPs
will remain in effect until such time as a new determination is required either by 40 CFR
93.104 or revisions to non-exempt projects.
Future conformity will be based on routine monitoring, periodic reviews, and evaluation
of the planning processes and timely implementation of the TCMs. The conformity
determinations ofthe RTPs and TIPs will remain in effect until such time as a new
determination is required either by regulation or revisions to the respective documents.
Page2
Massachusetts Air Quality Conformity Determinations
Should you have any questions regarding the air quality conformity determinations,
please let us know.
Sincerely,
I(~ (Jx;rj'­ ~~~
Mary BetJl Mello
Regional Administrator
Federal Transit Administration
cc: ·~~/~
Pamela Stephenson '
Division Administrator
Federal Highway Administration
David J. Mohler, OTP Executive Director, MassDOT
Frank DePaola, Highway Division Administrator, MassDOT
Curtis Spalding, EPA Regional Administrator
Kenneth Kimmell, Commissioner, Massachusetts DEP
Donald 0. Cooke, Environmental Scientist, EPA
Massachusetts Regional Planning Agencies
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Region 1 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 Boston, MA 02109-3912 October 10, 2012
OCT
Ms. Pamela S. Stephenson, Division Administrator
U.S. Federal Highway Administration
55 Broadway, lOth Floor
Cambridge, MA 02142
RE:
IW
1
5 2012
(ltv A
Massachusetts Air Quality Conformity
Dear Ms. Stephenson:
On September 13,2012, EPA New England provided written comments on air quality
conformity analyses for several Massachusetts areas. Specifically, we stated that the analyses
before us supported U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) making a positive
conformity determination for the Springfield (W. Mass), MA 8-hour ozone nonattainment area
and for the Waltham, Lowell, Worcester, and Springfield carbon monoxide maintenance areas.
However, we also noted that, while the air quality conformity analyses satisfied conformity 's
motor vehicle emissions budgets (MVEBs) test, the Boston Metropolitan Planning
Organization's (MPO's) failure to fund the State Implementation Plan-approved Red Line/Blue
Line Connector Design in their Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) prevented a positive
conformity finding for both the Boston-Lawrence-Worcester (E. Mass), MA 8-hour ozone
nonattainment area and the Boston carbon monoxide maintenance area at that time. In addition,
we also noted that the Boston MPO and Massachusetts Department of Transportation
(MassDOT) appeared to have independently made a conformity determination for Boston's
amended transportation plan, without coordinating with the other seven MPOs and two Regional
Planning Agencies (RPAs) in the ozone nonattainment area.
Since our letter, the Boston Region MPO has added design funding for the Red Line/Blue
Line Connector project to its Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2013-2016 TIP through an amendment.
In addition, the eight MPOs and two RPAs in eastern Massachusetts notified the public of
Boston's amendments to both its TIP and Transportation Plan and allowed an additional
comment period on the transportation air quality conformity evaluation for eastern
Massachusetts and Boston. Boston's amendments did not change the projected emissions
allowing the existing air quality analyses to be used for determining transportation conformity.
The air quality analyses continue to satisfy conformity 's motor vehicle emission budget test.
Ori October 9, 2012, at the end of the additional comment period, the eight MPOs and
two RPAs in eastern Massachusetts made a confollll,ity determination collectively on the 2012
Regional Transportation Plans as amended by the Boston region long range transportation plan,
2
and on the FFY 2013-2016 TIPs as amended by the Boston Region MPO. EPA concurs with the
MPOs evaluation and believes the 2012 transportation plans as amended by the Boston MPO,
and the FFY 2013-2016 TIPs as amended by the Boston MPO, now support positive
transportation conformity findings for the Boston-Lawrence- Worcester (E. Mass), MA 8-hour
Ozone nonattainment area and the Boston Carbon Monoxide attainment area.
If you have any further questions regarding our comments, please feel free to call Donald
Cooke ofmy staff at (617) 918-1668.
Sincerely,
{)~f~4J
Anne E. Arnold, Manager
Air Quality Planning Unit
cc: Mary Beth Mello, Administrator, FTA - Region 1, Cambridge, MA
Peter Butler, Deputy Administrator, FTA - Region 1, Cambridge, MA
Noah Berger, FTA- Region 1, Cambridge, MA
William Gordon, FTA - Region 1, Cambridge, MA
Michael Chong, FHWA - Massachusetts Division, Cambridge, MA
Paul Maloney, FHWA- Massachusetts Division, Cambridge, MA
Damaris Santiago, FHWA - Massachusetts Division, Cambridge, MA
Bob Frey, Massachusetts Highway Dept.- BTP&D- Boston, MA ·
Christine Kirby, MA DEP- Boston, MA
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Region 1 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 Boston, MA 02109-3912 - ...
September 13, 2012
,.
211?.
Ms. Pamela S. Stephenson, Division Administrator
U.S. Federal Highway Administration
55 Broadway, lOth Floor
Cambridge, MA 02142
RE:
Massachusetts Air Quality Conformity
Dear Ms. Stephenson:
On July 24, 2012, and August 6, 2012, EPA New England received the Federal Fiscal Years 2013-2016
Regional Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) with Air Quality Conformity Determinations,
which evaluate transportation air quality conformity for Massachusetts' Metropolitan Planning
Organizations (MPOs) and Regional Planning Agencies (RP As). EPA New England's Air Quality
Planning Unit has conducted a review of the air quality conformity analyses in accordance with EPA's
Transportation Conformity Rule as amended.
As discussed in more detail in the Enclosure, we have determined that the air quality conformity
analyses prepared for the 2013-2016 TIP satisfy conformity's motor vehicle emissions budgets
(MVEBs) test for all of the areas analyzed. In addition, the air quality analyses prepared for the Boston
MPO's amended long range transportation plan also satisfies the MVEBs test to support a positive
conformity finding. Therefore, we believe the analyses support U.S. DOT making a positive conformity
determination for the Springfield (W Mass), MA 8-hour ozone nonattainment area and for the Waltham,
Lowell, Worcester, and Springfield carbon monoxide maintenance areas.
However, as further discussed in the Enclosure, the Boston MPO's failure to fund the SIP-approved Red
Line/Blue Line Connector Design in their TIP prevents a positive conformity finding for both the
Boston-Lawrence-Worcester (E Mass), MA 8-hour ozone nonattainment area and the Boston carbon
monoxide maintenance area at this time. To make a positive conformity determination for these areas,
EPA believes that funding for the current State Implementation Plan (SIP) commitment to design the
Red Line/Blue Line Connector must be restored in the Boston 2013-2016 TIP or the SIP revision
process to remove this commitment must be completed. We note that the Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection has recently proposed the necessary amendments to the SIP. As you know,
until a new conformity determination is made on the 2013-2016 TIP, the existing conforming 2012-2015
TIP remains valid.
Finally, EPA notes that the Boston MPO and MassDOT appear to have independently made a
conformity determination for Boston's amended transportation plan, without coordinating with the other
seven MPOs and two RPAs in the Boston-Lawrence-Worcester (E Mass), MA 8-hour ozone
2
nonattainment area. The Conformity Rule requires all MPOs and RPAs to collectively demonstrate
transportation conformity. This procedural issue of interagency coordination and joint finding of
conformity can be corrected when the Boston MPO remedies the Red Line/Blue Line Connector Design
issue and seeks a conformity finding on the 2013-2016 TIP.
If you have any further questions regarding our comments, please feel free to call Donald Cooke of my
staff at (617) 918-1668.
Sina:~t~
Anne E. Arnold, Manager
Air Quality Planning Unit
Enclosure
cc: Mary Beth Mello, Administrator, FTA- Region 1, Cambridge, MA
Peter Butler, Deputy Administrator, FTA - Region 1, Cambridge, MA
Noah Berger, FTA - Region 1, Cambridge, MA
William Gordon, FTA - Region 1, Cambridge, MA
Michael Chong, FHWA - Massachusetts Division, Cambridge, MA
Paul Maloney, FHWA- Massachusetts Division, Cambridge, MA
Damaris Santiago, FHWA - Massachusetts Division, Cambridge, MA
Bob Frey, Massachusetts Highway Dept.- BTP&D- Boston, MA
Christine. Kirby, MA DEP- Boston, MA
Enclosure
EPA's Air Quality Conformity Evaluation
Emissions Budget Test for Fiscal Years 2013-2016 TIP
Massachusetts submitted 2008 and 2009 motor vehicle emissions budgets to EPA on January 31, 2008,
as part of the 8-hour ozone attainment demonstration and reasonable further progress plan State
Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions for the Boston-Lawrence-Worcester (E Mass), MA 8-hour ozone
nonattainment area (hereafter, the Eastern MA area) and the Springfield (W Mass), MA 8-hour ozone
nonattainment area (hereafter, the Western MA area). Since the time frame of the 2013-2016 TIP and
the years of analyses are past the year 2008, only the more restrictive 2009 motor vehicle emissions
budgets (MVEBs) were used in evaluating air quality conformity. The adequate 2009 MVEBs for the
Eastern MA area are 63.50 tons per summer day (tpsd) for volatile organic compounds (VOC) and
174.96 tpsd for oxides of nitrogen (N"Ox), and for the Western MA area are 10.73 tpsd for VOC and
27.23 tpsd for NOx.
Using the latest planning assumptions, the Massachusetts Highway Department, Office of
Transportation Planning, modeled the emissions of VOCs and NOx for the Eastern MA area, and the
Western MA area using a combination of the statewide and selected regional travel demand models.
The Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) also modeled the carbon monoxide (CO)
emissions for the Boston carbon monoxide maintenance area (Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett,
Malden, Medford, Quincy, Revere, and Somerville). EPA New England believes that these air quality
conformity analyses prepared for the 2013 - 2016 transportation improvement programs satisfy
conformity's MVEBs test for all of the areas analyzed. Specifically, the air quality conformity analyses
demonstrate that:
• The eight MPOs and two Regional Planning Agencies (RPAs) in the Eastern MA area [Boston
MPO, Cape Cod MPO, Central Massachusetts MPO, Old Colony MPO, Merrimack Valley
MPO, Montachusett MPO, Northern Middlesex MPO, Southeastern Massachusetts MPO,
Martha's Vineyard Commission, and Nantucket Planning and Economic Development
Commission] collectively demonstrate compliance with the motor vehicle emissions budgets
test. The VOC and NOx emissions for future years are less than the year 2009 MVEBs of63.50
tpsd ofVOC and 174.96 tpsd ofNOx established by the SIP for the nonattainment area, as
shown in the table below:
Boston-Lawrence-Worcester (Eastern Massachusetts) 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area
(Emissions in tons per summer day)
VOC Build
Emissions
2009 VOC Motor
Vehicle Emission
Budget
NOx Build
Emissions
2009 NOx Motor
Vehicle Emission
Budget
2016
36.232
63.50
66.219
174.96
2020
32.386
63.50
45.188
174.96
2025
30.988
63.50
36.521
174.96
2035
31.063
63.50
29.038
174.96
Year
2
• The two MPOs and one RPA in the Western MA area [Berkshire County MPO, Pioneer Valley
MPO, and Franklin Regional Council of Governments] collectively demonstrate transportation
conformity. The VOC and NOx emissions for future years are less than the year 2009 MVEBs
of 10.73 tpsd ofVOC and 27.73 tpsd ofNOx established by the SIP for the nonattainment area,
as shown in the table below:
Springfield (Western Massachusetts) 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area
(Emissions in tons per summer day)
VOC Build
Emissions
2009 VOC Motor
Vehicle Emission
Budget
NOx Build
Emissions
2009 NOx Motor Vehicle Emission Budget 2016
6.832 10.73
11.751
27.73
2020
5.979 10.73
7.732
27.73
2025
5.534 10.73
5.774
27.73
2035
5.602 10.73
5.018
27.73
Year
• The Boston CO maintenance area carbon monoxide motor vehicle emissions for future years are
consistent with the year 2010 carbon monoxide MVEB of228.33 tons of carbon monoxide per
winter day established by the SIP for the Boston CO maintenance area, as shown in the table
below:
Boston Carbon Monoxide Maintenance Area
(Emissions in tons per winter day)
Year
CO Build Emissions
2010 CO Motor Vehicle Emission Budget
2016
112.64 228.33
2020
107.98 228.33
2025
107.54 228 .33
2035
106.67 228.33
• The respective MPOs demonstrate that the four carbon monoxide maintenance areas within their
borders [Waltham (Boston MPO), Lowell (Northern Middlesex MPO), Worcester (Central
Massachusetts MPO), and Springfield (Pioneer Valley MPO)] all individually demonstrate
transportation conformity. On April22, 2002, these four communities were redesignated to
attainment for carbon monoxide with EPA-approved limited maintenance plans. Emissions
budgets in limited maintenance plan areas may be treated as essentially not constraining for the
length of the initial maintenance period because it is unreasonable to expect that such areas will
experience so much growth in that period that a violation of the carbon monoxide National
Ambient Air Quality Standard would result. Therefore, in areas with approved limited
maintenance plans, Federal actions requiring conformity determinations under the transportation
conformity rule are considered to satisfy the "budget test." In the future, "hot-spot" carbon
monoxide analysis will be performed to satisfy "project level" conformity determinations.
3
Emissions Budget Test for Boston's Long Range TP Amendment
• The Boston MPO and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) appear to
independently demonstrate compliance of the motor vehicle emissions budgets test on Boston's
amended long range transportation plan. The VOC and NOx emissions for future years are less
than the year 2009 MVEBs of 63.50 tpsd ofVOC and 174.96 tpsd ofNOx established by the SIP
for the Eastern MA area, as shown in the table below:
Boston-Lawrence-Worcester (Eastern Massachusetts) 8-Hour Ozone N onattainment Area
(Emissions in tons per summer day)
VOC Build
Emissions
2009 VOC Motor
Vehicle Emission
Budget
NOx Build
Emissions
2009 NOx Motor
Vehicle Emission
Budget
2016
36.232
63.50
66.219
174.96
2020
32.386
63.50
45.188
174.96
2025
30.988
63.50
36.521
174.96
2035
31.063
63.50
29.038
174.96
Year
• The Boston CO maintenance area carbon monoxide motor vehicle emissions associated with the
amended long range transportation plan demonstrate future years are consistent with the year
2010 carbon monoxide MVEB of228.33 tons of carbon monoxide per winter day established by
the SIP for the Boston CO maintenance area, as shown in the table below:
Boston Carbon Monoxide Maintenance Area
(Emissions in tons per winter day)
Year
CO Build Emissions
2010 CO Motor Vehicle Emission Budget
2016
112.64
228.33
2020
107.98
228.33
2025
107.54
228 .33
2035
106.67
228.33
Transportation Control Measures
One of the criteria to establish conformity is that Transportation Improvement Programs provide for the
timely implementation of Transportation Control Measures (TCMs) adopted in the SIP. This important
criterion is established in 40 CFR section 93.113 of the Transportation Conformity Rule. Specifically,
section 93.113 (c) states:
"(I) An examination ofthe specific steps andfunding source(s) needed to fully implement each
TCM indicates that TCMs which are eligible for funding under title 23 US. C. or the Federal
Transit Laws are on or ahead ofthe schedule established in the applicable implementation plan,
4
or, if such TCMs are behind the schedule established in the applicable implementation plan, the
MPO and DOT have determined that past obstacles to implementation ofthe TCMs have been
identified and have been or are being overcome, and that all State and local agencies with
influence over approvals or funding for TCMs are giving maximum priority to approval or
funding ofTCMs over other projects within their control, including projects in locations outside
the nonattainment or maintenance area.
(2) IfTCMs in the applicable implementation plan have previously been programmedfor
Federal funding but the funds have not been obligated and the TCMs are behind the schedule in
the implementation plan, then the TIP cannot be found to conform if the funds intendedfor those
TCMs are reallocated to projects in the TIP other than TCMs ...
(3) Nothing in the TIP may interfere with the implementation ofany TCM in the applicable
implementation plan."
In EPA's November 8, 2011, conformity evaluation for Massachusetts' 2012 TPs and 2012-2015 TIPs,
we identified positive conformity findings as being jeopardized by the Commonwealth's delay in
implementing SIP approved TCMs. This was prior to the December 31, 2011 completion date for the
design of the Red Line Blue Line Connector. The MassDOT was then exploring a SIP revision to
withdraw the design of the Red Line/Blue Line Connector and the Boston MPO continued to identify the
Red Line/Blue Line Connector Design in each year of the 2012-2015 TIP and allocated TCM funding
for the design in each year of the 2012 - 2015 TIP.
In our current review of the Boston 2013-2016 TIP, we note that (1) the December 31, 2011 completion
date for the final design of the Red Line/Blue Line Connector has now past, making the TCM behind
schedule and (2) the Boston MPO no longer allocates funding in the TIP for the design of the Red
Line/Blue Line Connector. We recognize that MassDOT has formally initiated the SIP amendment
process to permanently and completely remove the obligation to perform final design of the Red
Line/Blue Line Connector from the SIP. MassDOT is not proposing to substitute any new projects in
place of the Red Line/Blue Line Connector commitment, given the absence of any air quality benefits
associated with the current Red Line/Blue Line commitment (final design only). The Massachusetts
Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has scheduled public hearings on September 13,
2012 on proposed amendments to 310 CMR 7.36 "Transit System Improvements" which include
removing the design of the Red Line/Blue Line Connector.
To make a positive conformity determination for both the eastern MA area and the Boston carbon
monoxide maintenance area, EPA believes that funding for the current SIP commitment to design the
Red Line/Blue Line Connector must be restored in the Boston 2013-2016 TIP or the SIP revision
process to remove this commitment must be completed. As noted above, the MassDEP has recently
proposed the necessary amendments to the SIP. As you know, until a new conformity determination is
made on the 2013-2016 TIP, the existing conforming 2012-2015 TIP remains valid.
In addition to the design of the Red Line/Blue Line Connector, from the Blue Line at Government
Center to the Red Line at Charles Station, the Massachusetts' Transit System Improvements which were
adopted into the SIP on July 31, 2008 also require: (1) before December 31, 2011, construct and open to
the public the Fairmount Line Improvements/Stations Expansion Project; (2) before December 31, 2011,
construct and open to the public 1,000 additional park and ride parking spaces serving commuter transit
facilities in the Boston MPO region; and (3) before December 31, 2014, construct and open to the public
5
the Green Line Extension from Lechmere Station to Medford Hillside, and the Green Line Union Square
spur of the Green Line Extension to Medford Hillside.
MassDOT has acknowledged that the above SIP-approved TCMs would not be completed or operational
by their required date as set forth in Massachusetts Transit System Improvement regulation (31 0 CMR
7.36(2)) and the Massachusetts SIP. A "petition to delay the project(s)" was submitted by MassDOT for
two of the projects (the Fairmount Line Improvement Project and the 1,000 New Park and Ride Parking
Spaces), initiating the "Project Delays and Implementation oflnterim Emission Reduction Offset
Projects and Measures," as set forth in 310 CMR 7.36(4) and the SIP. MassDOT and the MBTA
provided interim offset measures for the six-month delay in the fulfillment of the 1,000-space
commitment, which, with the opening of the Wonderland garage on June 30, 2012, is now complete.
Interim emission offset projects or measures, approved by MassDEP for the Fairmont Line, were put in
place prior to December 31, 2011, the time of the project's operation date to achieve emission reductions
of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), CO and NOx equal to or greater than the emission reductions
that would have been achieved had the Fairmount Line not been delayed. Emission offsets for the
Fairmont Line continue since that project has not yet been completed.
With respect to the Green Line Extension from Lechmere Station to Medford Hillside, and the Green
Line Union Square spur ofthe Green Line Extension to Medford Hillside, MassDOT and the MBTA,
working with the Central Transportation Planning Staff, are currently initiating the process of
calculating the reductions ofNMHC, CO, and NOx- reductions equal to or greater than the reductions
projected for the Green Line Extension itself, as specified in the SIP regulation- that will be required
for the period of the delay (beyond December 31, 2014 until completion). MassDOT and the MBT A
have also worked with the public to develop a portfolio of interim projects and/or measures that may
meet the requirements, and are currently seeking input from the public on the portfolio. Interim
emission offset projects or measures, to be approved by MassDEP, must be in place at the time the
original project would have reduced emissions.
Fiscal Constraint
Another major criterion of the Transportation Conformity Rule is section 93.108, "Fiscal constraints for
transportation plans and TIPs," which requires that transportation plans and transportation improvement
programs be fiscally constrained consistent with U.S. Department of Transportation's metropolitan
planning regulations at 23 CFR part 450. On August 22, 2012, EPA was advised by your office, as well
as the Region 1 Office of the Federal Transit Administration, that Massachusetts' 2013-2016
transportation improvement programs are fiscally constrained. Fiscal constraint is needed to verify the
list of transportation projects in the air quality conformity analyses. The FY 2013-2016 transportation
improvement programs contain the regionally significant transportation projects in the 2013-2016 time
frame of the 2012 regional transportation plans with the exception of the Boston regional transportation
plan. On June 28, 2012, the Boston MPO amended its long range transportation plan "Path to a
Sustainable Region," to be consistent with the 2013-2016 TIP.
We understand that a new air quality analysis was prepared for the Boston MPO's amended long range
transportation plan, which now includes, in analysis year 2020, the modeling of (1) Montvale Avenue,
Woburn (widening from Central Street to east of Washington Street) and (2) New Boston Street Bridge,
Woburn (reestablish connection over MBTA Lowell line). Previously, the air quality analysis for the
2013-2016 TIP did not show benefit for these two projects until the 2025 analysis year.
6
Conformity determinations are made with respect to an entire nonattainment area. Therefore, the eight
MPOs and two RPAs in the Boston-Lawrence-Worcester (Eastern Massachusetts) 8-hour ozone
nonattainment area [Boston MPO, Cape Cod MPO, Central Massachusetts MPO, Old Colony MPO,
Merrimack Valley MPO, Montachusett MPO, Northern Middlesex MPO, Southeastern Massachusetts
MPO, Martha's Vineyard Commission, and Nantucket Planning and Economic Development
Commission] must collectively demonstrate transportation conformity. This procedural issue of
interagency coordination and joint finding of conformity can be corrected when the Boston MPO
remedies the Red Line/Blue Line Connector Design issue and seeks a conformity finding on the 2013­
2016 TIP.
MassDEP's Conformity Concurrence
Finally, EPA points out that the MassDEP has a unique role in transportation conformity established in
Massachusetts' 1982 SIP and the Massachusetts' conformity regulations. The MassDEP must concur on
Massachusetts Department ofTransportation's/Massachusetts Highway Department's conformity
analysis.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs
Departm ent of Environmental Protectio n
One Winter Street Boston, MA 02108 • 61.7-292-5500
RICHARD K SULLIVAN JR.
OEVAL L PATRICK
Soorot<wy
Guvurnor·
KENNETH L. KI M M ELL
Cum1nisHione1'
nMOTHY P MURRAY
Loeutenant Govar-nor
September 6, 2012
David Mohler, Executive Director
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Ten Park Plaza, Suite 3170
Boston, MA 02116-3969
RE: Review of the FFY 2013-2016 Transportation hnprovement Programs, the State
Transportation Improvement Program, and the Amendment to Boston's Long Range
Transportation Plan
Dear Mr. Mohler:
The Massachusetts Department ofEnvironmental Protection (MassDEP) has reviewed the
Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2013-2016 Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs) for the
thirteen Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in Massachusetts and the State
Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). In addition, MassDEP has reviewed the
amendment to the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization's Long Range
Transportation Plan (LRTP), Paths to Sustainable Region. MassDEP received the TIPs, the
STIP, and the amended LRTP from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation
(MassDOT) for review in July 2012. These plans apply to the federal fiscal year beginning
October 1, 2012. This letter serves as MassDEP's concurrence on the air quality conformity
analyses.
MassDEP's review ofthe thirteen TIPs, the STIP, and the amendment to Boston's LRTP
was conducted in accordance with the federal Transportation Conformity Rule, 40 CFR Part
51, and the Massachusetts Transportation Conformity Regulation, 31 0 CMR 60.03. The
reviews were performed in order to verify conformity of the TIPs, the STIP, and the
amended LRTP with the State Implementation Plan (SIP). The MPOs and MassDOT also
certified that their respective TIPs and STIP are financially constrained as required by
Title 23 CFR Section 450.324 and 310 CMR 60.03. The Boston MPO has also certified
that the amended LRTP is financially constrained.
This Information !s available In a!t<:>rnate format Cal! Mlche!!<:>
W~ters -F. ~ an'lrn, O lv ~r$ 11y
Olrnctor, at 617-292-5761 . TOO# 1-866-539-7622 or 1-617-574-6868
MassDEP Website: www. mass.gov/dep
Printed on Recycled Paper
MassDEP fmds the TIPs and the STIP to be in confonnance with the SIP because all
regionally significant projects included in the TIPs and the STIP come from conforming
Transportation Plans that have been previously analyzed through a regional emissions
analysis.
MassDEP also finds that the amended LRTP for the Boston Region to be in confonnance
with the SIP. In addition, MassDEP fmds that the regional emissions analysis demonstrates
that the amended LRTP is within the mobile sources emission budgets in the SIP for volatile
1
organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide.
If you have any questions regarding MassDEP's review, please call Richard Blanchet of the
Bureau of Waste Prevention, Division of Consumer and Transportation Programs at (617)
654-6585.
Sincerely,
'/;
----
[{~0zt!.~1:j_
Kenneth Kimmell
Commissioner
cc: 1
Donald Cooke, U.S. EPA Region 1
Michael Chong, FHWA
William Gordon, FTA
For Eastern Massachusetts, the mobile source emission budgets are set at 63.5 tons/summer day for
volatile organic compounds and 174.96 tons/summer day for nitrogen oxides. Carbon monoxide emission
budgets are in place for nine cities in the Boston Maintenance area; these budgets are 217.53 tons per
winter day in 2005 and 228.33 tons per winter day for 2010 and subsequent years.