(May 29, 2002 - Baltimore) – At its meeting yesterday morning, the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) accepted a recommendation from the Interagency Consultation Group (ICG) to identify emissions reduction strategies for the Baltimore region before moving forward with new transportation projects.  The ICG is a subcommittee which advises the BRTB on federal air quality regulations. The BRTB agreed to work collectively to quickly develop a set of strategies to improve air quality in the Baltimore region.

Transportation planning in the Baltimore region is currently operating under a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Long-Range Transportation Plan (Plan) approved by the federal Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency early in 2002, and which will remain in effect until February, 2004 and February, 2005 respectively.  In approving the TIP and Plan, the federal regulatory agencies determined that proposed highway and transit projects to be funded will not adversely affect the Baltimore region’s air quality.  However, requesting funding for new initiatives at this time, without additional air quality improvement strategies in place, could jeopardize efforts to achieve clean air by the 2005 deadline specified in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.

"We’re optimistic that the Baltimore region will be able to achieve its air quality goals in a timely fashion," said Baltimore County Executive C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, chair of the BRTB.  "I’m asking all state and local governments, the business community and citizens’ groups to continue working together to clean up our region’s air."

The BRTB plans to reconvene its Emissions Mitigation Strategies Subcommittee to develop and evaluate environmentally sound transportation initiatives to further this important goal.

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