TRANSPORTATION PROVISIONS IN THE CLEAN-AIR ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1990

On November 15, 1990, President Bush signed the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 into law. The law will have a major impact on transportation planning and project development in areas not meeting the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and carbon monoxide; the federal-aid highway program in those areas will be revised as a result of the new law's provisions for highway sanctions, conformity, transportation/air quality planning, vehicle-miles of travel forecasting, and other transportation/air quality issues. In some nonattainment areas, the law could mandate a reduction in vehicle-miles of travel. This article takes a look at the key transportation-related provisions in the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments and discusses how they are likely to to affect ongoing transportation programs and practices.