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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20073557.tiff LARIMER BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COUIV l l Post Office Box 1190 Fort Collins,Colorado 80522-1190 (970)498-7004 Fax(970)498-7006 CON',A11TTFD TO 1VCSLLLNCL November 8, 2007 Mr. Rob Masden, Chairman Upper Front Range TPR PO Box 758 Greeley CO 80632 Dear Mr. Masden: Subject: Proposed DRCOG Metropolitan Planning Area Boundary in Weld Co. Our Board received a copy of the letter sent to the TRP from the U.S. Department of Transportation about the pending DRCOG Metropolitan Planning Area boundary change designed to reflect the growth patterns resulting from the Denver metro urbanizing area. We felt it was important to communicate with you about the timing of the boundary change as is relates to the ozone air quality issue. As you know, planning has begun to prepare a State Implementation Plan (SIP)to address bringing the region back into compliance with the 8-hour ozone air quality standard. For most issues, it is anticipated that the control strategies will apply across the nonattainment area. One consequence of becoming an ozone nonattainment area will be the requirement to perform air quality conformity determinations for each of the three transportation planning regions. Those determinations, along with the related emissions budgets will be crucial as we evaluate and ultimately select transportation projects for funding. It is this issue where the boundaries for transportation planning regions need to be clearly established. Given the importance of both the SIP development and the need to proceed with conformity analyses, we concur that establishing the updated Planning Area Boundaries needs to occur now. Therefore, we support the concept of the Upper Front Range TPR approving the revised DRCCOG Metropolitan Planning Area Boundary. While it would be preferable not to have to deal with the ozone nonattainment and conformity issues, we appreciate our partnerships with the Upper Front Range TPR and Weld County. Please let me know if we can be of assistance regarding any of these issues. For the Board of Commissioners, Ka ay Chair O/11/1-14W/r/9 `/7S, 0 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER 14/ 7/- 7`&7/ (y) . cw 2007-3557 Hello