To augment the region's leadership in improving air quality, the NJTPA conducted a Transportation Clean Air Measures (TCAM) study that identified innovative approaches to reducing transportation-related emissions. The set of identified measures serves as a basis for selecting projects to be funded under the NJTPA's Local Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program and other avenues for implementation.
Candidate projects were analyzed in the TCAM study for their air quality benefits, potential for implementation, opportunity for interagency coordination, cost and funding applicability, ability to inspire or support further actions, and other factors. Measures considered included clean vehicle technology and diesel retrofits, anti-idling strategies, vehicle travel reduction, and public outreach programs. An advisory group drawn from partner agencies and potential implementers helped to guide the project and implementation action plans were developed for nine Candidate TCAM Initiatives (pdf, 53KB).
The NJTPA has advanced several of these initiatives toward various stages of implementation. In 2011, the NJTPA Board of Trustees approved Local CMAQ funding for a NJ Transit Locomotive Idle Reduction Program and in 2009, for a public/private partnership between the Port Authority and
Conrail to replace two freight train diesel locomotive engines with new
ultra low emitting equipment. The NJTPA has also continued to approve funding of the Community Shuttle Program administered by
NJ Transit.
Work toward implementing additional TCAM initiatives continues at the NJTPA. For more information, please contact Liz DeRuchie (liz@njtpa.org, 973-639-8446).