Miami-Dade 2040 LRTP - Oct. 23, 2014

MIAMI-DADE LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE TO THE YEAR 2040 Chapter 7 | Sustaining our Environment & Communities Initiative Goal Area: Leadership, Connections and Commitment 7 Integrate and prioritize climate change and sustainability in local government strategic planning, business planning and in fiscal decision making Initiative Goal Area: Climate Change Action Plan 134 Analyze sea level rise scenario maps to model buildable/livable footprints and correlate economic scenarios 135 Examine the implications of sea level rise on vulnerable facilities Table 7-2 | Goal Areas: Leadership, Connections and Commitment & Climate Change Action Plan Air Quality The Clean Air Act, which was last amended in 1990, requires U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) (40 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) part 50) for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment. As part of the NAAQS there are 6 Criteria Pollutants which are: Vehicle emissions contribute to ozone, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen dioxide. Smelting plants and other variables contribute to sulfur dioxide and lead. Transportation Conformity ensures that Federal funding and approval is allocated to transportation plans, programs, and projects that meet air quality standards. Areas that have received FHWA or FTA funds that do not meet or have not met the air quality standards in the past, known as “nonattainment or maintenance areas”must show conformity to the air quality standards. As of June 2005 the entire state of Florida is in compliance with NAAQS and Air Quality Conformity Determination Reports are not required under either the LRTP or Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). In 2008, the Federal government strengthened the NAAQS for ground-level ozone (O3) 8-hour average from 0.080 parts per million (ppm) to 0.075 ppm. On January 6, 2010, the EPA proposed to strengthen the NAAQS again for ground-level ozone. The proposed revisions, based on scientific evidence about O3 and its effects on people and the environment, proposed to change the 8-hour primary O3 standard to a level with the range of (0.060 ppm to 0.070 ppm) with seasonal secondary standards that are designed to protect sensitive vegetation and ecosystems. To date, this proposed revised standard has not been issued. The Miami-Dade 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) is guided by eight goals, including one to “protect and preserve the environment and quality of life and promote energy conservation.” The LRTP goals are specified by objectives, all of which are measured, either qualitatively or quantitatively, to assess the performance of the LRTP. The objectives listed under the environmental protection goal include the following: The 2040 LRTP Cost Feasible Plan includes several types of improvements and strategies that address these objectives, including: Ozone (O3) - which is made up of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) Carbon Monoxide (CO) Particulate Matter (PM) – both (PM2.5) and (PM10) Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Lead (Pb) Minimize and mitigate air and water quality impacts of transportation facilities, services, and operations; Reduce fossil fuel use; and Promote the use of alternative vehicle technologies. Diesel Engine Retroÿts and Conversion to CNG (compressed natural gas) Managed lanes projects that include incentives for hybrid and high occupancy vehicles; Non-motorized financial set-aside that includes funding for the development of bicycle paths and sidewalks to encourage non-motorized transportation; Express bus and bus rapid transit projects along Kendall, Biscayne and I-95 to provide alternatives to automobile travel; Park-and-Ride lot development and expansion projects to provide improved access to transit services; and Congestion Management financial set-aside that includes funding for the construction of multimodal facilities and transportation demand management programs. ENVIRONMENT EYES ON THE FUTURE | 7-7