Title:  Cleveland Heights Municipal Vehicle Engine Retrofits Sponsor:  City of Cleveland Heights Estimated Total Cost: $50,000 Proposed Source of Federal Funds: NOACA History/Background:The City of Cleveland Heights Public Works Department’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, maintaining vehicles for the several departmental divisions (i.e. Forestry, Wildlife, Beautification, Water Maintenance, Sewer Maintenance, Streets Maintenance, Building Maintenance, Refuse/Recycling, Transfer Station, Recreational Facilities and the Vehicle Maintenance). According to the sponsor, these divisions operate within the city limits using diesel fueled engines. The sponsor also reports that during 2005, the Public Works Department used 130,000 gallons of diesel fuel to operate its vehicles. The sponsor asserts it would be cost effective for the Public Works Department to be able to rehabilitate the bodies of its older vehicles and replace the engines rather than have to purchase new vehicles. According to the sponsor, it would take from 30 to 120 days after an order is placed for the city to take possession of a new vehicle. Current Conditions: The Public Works Department reports that it currently operates 75 vehicles using diesel engines, and 40 of these vehicles need to be replaced. In 2003 the city received a grant from the Cleveland Clean Air Century Campaign in the amount of $35,000. These funds were used to replace the engines in five vehicles. Proposed Project:  The Cleveland Heights Vehicle Maintenance Division will replace five of its older diesel engines from various divisions. The city intends to replace one engine every month. The estimated total cost of the project is $50,000 ($10,000/engine). The sponsor is requesting the use of NOACA-attributable Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funds to support the project. Eighty percent ($40,000) of the cost can be funded with CMAQ funds. The City will provide the twenty percent ($10,000) local match. The sponsor has prepared an emissions reduction analysis (enclosed), which FHWA requires to be eligible for CMAQ funds. Staff Comment (Summary): Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Team: At its March 17, 2006 meeting, the RTIS authorized staff to inform applicants requesting federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality funds (CMAQ) for 2006-2009 that recommendations from the draft State Implementation Plan (SIP) will be considered prior to programming CMAQ funds. The strategic use of CMAQ funds may be needed to achieve SIP goals. The NOACA EAC (Environmental Advisory Committee) Air Quality Subcommittee endorses the recommendation made by the NOACA Air Quality Public Advisory Task Force that retrofits and replacements be encouraged for existing on-road and non-road diesel engines, all of which emit NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen). Advance to committee and public review in order to obtain comments. Plan Forecast Team: This program is desirable since it is consistent with SIP recommendations; however, the financial implications of such a commitment must be examined. Does funding one community retrofit program imply funding all communities? If so, an inventory and schedule is necessary. Without an inventory, it will be difficult to assess and communicate how communities will be selected. For example, will the status as an urban core community hold weight, or level of fiscal distress? NOACA should not pay for installation. Refer to Air Quality Subcommittee for review. Regional Transportation System (RTS) Team: Move for committee and public review. Committee Review: Transit Council The Transit Council recommended postponing a decision on this project and recommended the formation of a Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) task force. A better understanding of the future demand of CMAQ from all implementers is needed. Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee The RTIS recommended that the TAC postpone a decision on this project and recommended the formation of a Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) task force. On August 17, 2007 the project was recommended for amendment to NOACA's Transportation Plan and TIP. Transportation Advisory Committee The TAC decided to postpone this project. It also decided to jointly form a CMAQ task force with the Environmental Advisory Committee. On August 17, 2007 the project was recommended for amendment to NOACA's Transportation Plan and TIP. Intergovernmental Review and Consultation (IGRC): "Conceptually we support the proposal. Efforts of this nature should attribute to a healthy sustainable community in several ways. It appears to provide personal fiscal options for those who wouldn't need a vehicle on a continuosu basis, would therefore reduce emissions ( would also like to see some projected data) as well as to over time, reduce congestion. We support moving in this direction." - Cuyahoga County District Board of Health "Laketran is not opposed to either the scope or the concept of these projects. They are good examples of the types of projects that need to be encouraged. We are nevertheless opposed to their use of CMAQ funds at this time. Projects which are less than regional in scope, which provide CM benefits but not AQ benefits, or provide AQ benefits but not CM benefits should not be programmed for CMAQ funds now. A better understanding of the future demand for CMAQ funds from all implementors is needed. A process may be needed to govern the use of CMAQ funds, in lieu of the present first-come, first-served approach. The STP program uses a first-come, first-served approach. As a consequence, the STP program is highly constrained with virtually no capacity for new projects or for expanded scope of existing projects. An influx of new projects to the CMAQ program can result in a CMAQ account that is just as tight as the STP account is. Future projects which have both CM and AQ benefits and are regional in scope may suffer as a consequence. Such an outcome is detrimental to future projects. These points were discussed at the 20 October 2006 RTIS meeting. The RTIS tabled both of these projects until the forgoing concerns about funding future CMAQ projects can be answered." - Laketran If you are a representative of a governmental entity and would like to comment on this project, please email us. Public Involvement: NOACA encourages comments from the public on this proposed transportation improvement project. Please notify us if you would like to be added to our e-mail notification list for future updates.