HomeMy WebLinkAbout20111262 USDepartment Colorado Division 12300 W.'Dakbta'Ave., Suite 180
dirnsportalion LakewdOd;COlorado 80228
Federal Highway May 12, 2011 720-963-3000
Administration
H :Fax 20-963-3001
Ms. Barbara Kirkmeyer
Chairwoman, Upper Front Range TPR
P.O. Box 758
915 Tenth St.
Greeley, CO 80632
Dear Ms. Kirkmeyer:
SUBJECT: Conformity Redetermination for the Fort Collins-Greeley
Urbanized Areas 2035 RTP and Amended 2008-2013 TIP
In accordance with the Clean Air Act of 1990, as amended, and 23 CFR 450, the U.S.
Department of Transportation(U.S. DOT) is required to make air quality conformity
determinations of Regional Transportation Plans (RTP) and Transportation Improvement
Programs (TIP) in non-attainment and maintenance areas. The process to make a conformity
determination in Colorado is the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Colorado Division
office signs the letter on behalf of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Region VIII office
per the current Memorandum of Agreement for Transportation Planning Oversight (MOA).
On November 20, 2007, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated the
Denver, Boulder, Longmont, Fort Collins and Greeley urbanized areas nonattainment for 8-hour
ozone. The nonattainment area includes the planning areas of the North Front Range
Transportation and Air Quality Planning Council, also known as the North Front Range
Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO), the Denver Regional Council of Governments
(DRCOG) and the upper Front Range Transportation Planning Region (Upper Front Range
TPR). The transportation planning organizations have signed a MOA explaining how air quality
conformity for 8-hour ozone is accomplished by the three parties within the nonattainment area.
The 8-Hour Ozone MOA specifically defines the process whereby NFRMPO and DRCOG in
their metropolitan planning organization (MPO) capabilities include the Upper Front Range TPR
in the joint conformity determination.
Currently, the cities of Fort Collins and Greeley in the NFRMPO region are designated as
maintenance areas for carbon monoxide (CO). Similarly, the DRCOG region is designated as a
maintenance area for CO and particulate matter less than 10 microns in size(PM10).
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The U.S. DOT made a conformity determination for the 8-hour ozone nonattainment area on
November 19, 2008. We previously made conformity determinations covering the other
pollutants (CO and PM10) for the DRCOG 2035 RTP and 2008-2013 TIP on March 3, 2008 and
March 27, 2008, respectively and on the NFRMPO 2035 RTP and 2008-2013 TIP on
March 27, 2008.
Furthermore, we have since 2008 completed the following conformity redeterminations for the
DRCOG 2035 RTP and 2008-2013 TIP:
- 2008 Cycle 1 Amendments to the 2035 RTP (October 16, 2008)
- 2008 Cycle 2 Amendments to the 2035 RTP (April 30, 2009)
- 2009 Cycle 1 Amendments to the 2035 RTP (October 30, 2009)
- 2009 Cycle 2 Amendments to the 2035 RTP (August 10, 2010)
Per the 8-Hour Ozone MOA referenced above, the NFRMPO and DRCOG have elected to make
conformity determinations together each time either MPO amends the RTP or TIP. Up to now
NFRMPO has made no changes to the 2008-2013 TIP since adoption by the MPO, but did
jointly make conformity redeterminations on the four DRCOG RTP amendments listed above.
On January 6, 2011, the NFRMPO adopted an air quality conformity redetermination for the
Fort Collins and Greeley urbanized areas Amended 2008-2013 TIP, in its capacity as the MPO.
The NFRMPO also re-determined conformity for the 2035 RTP, as reflected in Amended
Resolution No. 2011-02. The reason for taking this action was to add the Mason Corridor Bus
Rapid Transit project to the fiscally constrained TIP. The DRCOG, acted on the joint conformity
redetermination on February 16, 2011 as part of the update to the 2035 RTP.
Based on our evaluation of the NFRMPO 2035 RTP and Amended 2008-2013 TIP conformity
redetermination, in coordination with the U.S. EPA, the NFRMPO, the DRCOG, the Colorado
Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC), and the Colorado Department of Transportation
(CDOT), we have determined that the Fort Collins, Greeley, Denver, Boulder and Longmont
urbanized areas have met the requirements of 40 CFR 51 and 93, 23 CFR 450 49 CFR 613 along
with FHWA/FTA policies and guidance. Furthermore, the 2035 RTP and Amended 2008-2013
TIP conform to the State Implementation Plan (SIP).
A conformity redetermination for the NFRMPO 2035 RTP and Amended 2008-2013 TIP, the
DRCOG 2035 RTP and 2008-2013 TIP and the Upper Front Range TPR portion of the 2008-
2013 Statewide Transportation improvement Program (STIP) is hereby made. This action is
consistent with the FHWA/FTA Transportation Planning MOA.
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The conformity determination we made on March 27, 2008 for the NFRMPO 2035 RTP and
NFRMPO 2008 -2013 TIP remains in effect through March 26, 2012 for the RTP, and through
June 30, 2011 for the TIP.
Sincerely yours,
jcS) �� Ct
John M. Cater
Division Administrator
cc: Ms. Lisa Silva, APCD
Ms. Cathy Cole CDOT
Mr. Jeff Sudmeier, CDOT
Mr. David Beckhouse, FTA
Mr. Larry Squires, FTA
Mr. Tim Russ, EPA
Additional addresses:
Mr. Cliff Davidson, Executive Director
North Front Range MPO
419 Canyon Avenue, Suite 300
Fort Collins, CO 80521
Ms. Jennifer Schaufele
Executive Director, DRCOG
1290 Broadway, Suite 700
Denver, CO 80202
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