For an MPO that is a newly designated urbanized area and designated nonattainment under the 8-hour ozone standard, do they need to have a conforming plan and TIP in place by June 15, 2005?
No. The FAQs for Applying 2000 Census Data to Urbanized and Urban Areas (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/census/faqa2cdt.htm) states that MPOs in newly designated urbanized areas will be given until 10/1/05 to establish a planning process meeting all the requirements of 23 CFR 450 and 49 CFR 613, including a plan and TIP. Therefore, a conforming plan and TIP would not need to be in place until 10/1/05. If there are no other MPOs within the nonattainment area, it would be treated as an isolated rural area until a conforming plan and TIP are in place (i.e., no new non-exempt projects could be approved without meeting conformity requirements for isolated rural areas). If there are other MPOs within the nonattainment area, then the newly urbanized area could be treated as a donut area until a conforming plan and TIP are in place. The FAQs also have a question on conformity in nonattainment and maintenance areas for newly designated urbanized areas. However, this FAQ only applies to areas
Related Questions
- What is my area going to be required to do to meet the air pollution regulations if it is designated nonattainment for ozone?
- If a Compact area is designated nonattainment under the PM2.5 standard, do they have to meet conformity requirements?
- Can a new urbanized area receive PL or MP funds (FY2003) if an MPO has not yet been designated?
