Increased population and job growth could ruin the region?s recent downward trend in the number of high-ozone days.
“Even with technology to help us, Americans love their cars, and we do see the [the number of] ozone days going back up,” said Regina Aris, the Baltimore Metropolitan Council?s policy manager.
Since 1980, the Baltimore metropolitan region has seen the number of days when ozone levels are dangerously high drop from 70 days a year to 20 because of cleaner vehicle emissions and improved transit options. However, the federal Environmental Protection Agency designates the region as not meeting federal standards on ozone levels.
With every county in the Baltimore region expecting population and job growth in the next 25 years, the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board addressed ozone levels in its recent outlook plan into the year 2035.
Not only will more cars be on the road, but commutes will be longer.
“Future projections for growth in vehicle travel make it more important than ever to control emissions,” the report said.
The report lists nearly 50 road improvements in the region, as well as transit improvements to MARC rail lines and bus systems.
Whether ozone-reducing technology can keep up, however, remains to be seen, experts say.
“It?s a cycle. Building more roads is not always such a good idea,” said William Elrick of Baltimore City-based Torrington Group, a transportation and environmental consulting firm. “As far as more cars, reducing emissions is going to be one of the biggest issues facing the state and transportation planner.”
Ground-level ozone is created by chemical reactions of nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds in sunlight. The sources of these compounds comes mainly from cars and industrial output, according to the EPA.
AT A GLANCE
Regionally significant projects:
The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board identified six major projects to help ease congestion. Most projects are slated for completion in the next 10 to 20 years:
» Route 50/301: Add two lanes from Interstate 97 to William Preston Lane Bay Bridge by 2020
» I-695: Widen to eight lanes from I-83 North to I-95 North by 2015
» I-695: Widen to eight lanes from I-95 South to Route 122 by 2015
» I-95 South: Add two lanes from I-695 to the Baltimore-Howard County line by 2020
» I-95 South: Widen to 10 lanes from the Baltimore-Howard County line to Howard-Prince George?s County line by 2020
» Red Line: Construct east-west rapid transit system from Patterson Park through downtown Baltimore to Woodlawn by 2015
Ozone levels:
Number of days when the ground ozone level reached dangerous levels:
1980: 70
1985: 48
1990: 32
1995: 30
2000: 27
2005: 18
Public hearings:
The meetings will feature the information available for viewing and a presentation by officials at 7 p.m.:
» 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, George Howard Building, 3430 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City
» 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Heritage Office Complex, 2664 Riva Road, Annapolis
» 3-8 p.m. July 31, Harford County Administration Building, 220 S. Main St., Bel Air
» 4-8 p.m. Aug. 1, Carroll County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., Westminster
» 3-8 p.m. Aug. 6, Baltimore County Public Library, 330 York Road, Towson
» 5-8:30 p.m. Aug. 15, Charles L. Benton Building, 417 E. Fayette St., Baltimore City
» 3-7 p.m. Aug. 21, Baltimore Metropolitan Council, 2700 Lighthouse Point East, Baltimore
The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board will meet at 5 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Baltimore Metropolitan Council office.
