The URL can be used to link to this page

Browse Search

Home My WebLink About20112939 US.Department - Colorado Division 12300 W. Dakota Ave., Ste. 180 of Transportation Lakewood, CO 80228 Federal Highway October 24, 2011 (720) 963-3014 Administration Fax (720) 963-3001 Ms.Jennifer Shaufele Executive Director Denver Regional Council of Governments 1290 Broadway, Suite 700 Denver, CO 80202 Subject: DRCOG 2011 Cycle 1 2035 MVRTP Amendments and Amended 2012-2017 TIP Conformity Redetermination Dear Ms. Shaufele: 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 non-attainment for 8-hour ozone. The non-attainment area includes the planning areas of the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG),North Front Range Transportation and Air Quality Planning Council, also known as the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO), and the upper Front Range Transportation Planning Region (Upper Front Range TPR). The transportation planning organizations have signed an MOA explaining how air quality conformity for 8-hour ozone is accomplished by the three parties within the non-attainment area. The 8-Hour Ozone MOA states that DRCOG will provide conformity determinations for the southern subarea on the Denver-North Front Range non-attainment area, as well as portions of the Upper Front Range TPR. Subarea budgets were used for the conformity determination of the 2011 Cycle 1 Amendments to the DRCOG 2035 RTP. Currently, the DRCOG region is designated as a maintenance area for CO and particulate matter less than 10 microns in size (PM10). On August 17,2011, DRCOG, in its capacity as the MPO, adopted an air quality conformity determination for the DRCOG 2011 Cycle 1 Amendments to the 2035 Metro Vision RTP and the Amended FY 2012-2017 TIP. The 2035 MVRTP is the fiscally constrained long-range transportation plan for the DRCOG region, while the FY 2012-2017 TIP is the fiscally constrained transportation improvement program for the DRCOG region. The 8-Hour ozone Cx.cr rc..vo C 1i Vn 11 1- 11 2011-2939 2 Denver-North Front Range (Northern Subarea), and includes both the Upper Front Range 2035 RTP and the FY 2012-2017 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for the Upper Front Range Transportation Planning Region. Based on our evaluation of the NFRMPO Updated 2035 RTP the NFRMPO Amended FY 2012-2017 TIP conformity determination, in coordination with the EPA, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission(AQCC),the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) and the Colorado Department of Transportation(CDOT), we have determined that the NFRMPO area has met the requirements of 40 CFR 51 and 93, 23 CFR 450, 49 CFR 613 along with FHWA/FTA policies and guidance. Furthermore, the NFRMPO Updated 2035 RTP and the NFRMPO Amended FY 2012-2017 TIP conform to the State Implementation Plan(SIP). Under separate letters dated November 19, 2008 and June 29, 2011, we made conformity determinations for the Upper Front Range TPR 2035 RTP and the Upper Front Range TPR portion of the 2012-2017 STIP. A conformity determination for the NFRMPO Updated 2035 RTP and the NFRMPO Amended FY 2012-2017 TIP is hereby made. This conformity determination is in effect until such time as a new finding is required, either by new regulatory requirements, a revision of the RTP, a revision of the TIP or a revision to the SIP. Our action is consistent with the FHWA/FTA Transportation Planning MOA. Sincerely yours, John M. Cater Division Administrator cc: Ms. Lisa Silva, APCD Mr. Jeff Sudmeier, CDOT Ms. Cathy Cole, CDOT Mr. David Beckhouse, FTA Mr. Larry Squires, FTA Mr. Tim Russ, EPA Ms. Barbara Kirkmeyer, UFR USDepartment Colorado Division 12300 W. Dakota Ave., Ste. 180 of Transportation Lakewood, CO 80228 Federal Highway October 24, 2011 (720) 963-3014 Administration Fax (720) 963-3001 Mr. Cliff Davidson Executive Director North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization 419 Canyon Avenue, Suite 300 Fort Collins, CO 80521 Subject: NFRMPO Updated 2035 RTP and Amended 2012-2017 TIP Conformity Determination Dear Mr. Davidson: 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, who 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 non-attainment for 8-hour ozone. The non-attainment 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 an MOA explaining how air quality conformity for 8-hour ozone is accomplished by the three parties within the non- attainment area. The 8-Hour Ozone MOA states that the North Front Range MPO will provide conformity determinations for the northern subarea on the Denver-North Front Range non- attainment area, as well as portions of the Upper Front Range TPR. Subarea budgets were used for the conformity determinations of the Updated 2035 RTP and Amended 2012-2017 TIP. Currently, the cities of Fort Collins and Greeley are designated as maintenance areas for carbon monoxide (CO). On September 1, 2011, the NFRMPO Planning Council, in its capacity as the MPO, adopted an air quality conformity determination for the NFRMPO Updated 2035 RTP and the NFRMPO Amended FY 2012-2017 TIP. The Updated 2035 RTP is the fiscally constrained RTP for the NFRMPO region, while the Amended FY 2012-2017 TIP is the fiscally constrained TIP for the NFRMPO region. The 8-Hour ozone portion of the conformity determination covers the 2 portion of the conformity determination covers the Denver Southern Subarea, and includes both the Upper Front Range 2035 RTP and the FY 2012-2017 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for the Upper Front Range Transportation Planning Region. We previously made conformity determinations for the DRCOG Updated 2035 MVRTP on May 13, 2011, and for the DRCOG FY 2012-2017 TIP on June 29, 2011. Furthermore, an initial conformity determination was made for the Upper Front Range TPR 2035 RTP on November 19, 2008. On June 29, 2011, the Upper Front Range TPR portion of the 2012-2017 STIP was included in the conformity determinations we made for the DRCOG and NFRMPO 2012-2017 TIPs. Based on our evaluation of the DRCOG 2011 Cycle 1 Amendments to the 2035 MVRTP conformity determination and the FY 2012-2017 TIP in coordination with the EPA, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission(AQCC), the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), we have determined that the DRCOG area has met the requirements of 40 CFR 51 and 93, 23 CFR 450, 49 CFR 613 along with FHWA/FTA policies and guidance. Furthermore, the DRCOG 2011 Cycle 1 Amendments to the 2035 MVRTP and the Amended DRCOG FY 2012-2017 TIP conform to the State Implementation Plan (SIP). A conformity redetermination for the DRCOG 2011 Cycle 1 Amendments to the 2035 MVRTP and the Amended DRCOG 2012-2017 TIP is hereby made. Our action is consistent with the FHWA/FTA Transportation Planning MOA. Sincerely yours, :4 L John M. Cater Division Administrator cc: Ms. Lisa Silva, APCD Mr. Jeff Sudmeier, CDOT Mr. David Beckhouse, FTA Mr. Larry Squires, FTA Mr. Tim Russ, EPA Mr. Cliff Davidson, NFRMPO Ms. Barbara Kirkmeyer, UPR Hello