DRAFT

PSTA participates in a number of environmental initiatives to assist in maintaining the “attainment area”designation. Such activities include: PSTA purchased clean diesel buses beginning in the 1990’s PSTA helped initiate and fund a regional Vanpooling and Guaranteed Ride Home Program in the1990’s 2008 model year buses use special particulate filters that cut particulate emissions (soot) by 90%over older models. PSTA uses special low-ash motor oil, which also helps reduce particulate emissions. PSTA has 10 Diesel-Electric Hybrid buses now in service and 14 more were delivered in August2010. Long before it was mandated by the government, PSTA used Ultra Low-Sulfur diesel fuel, whichalso helps reduce pollutants.On April 1, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation’sNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) established a program to dramatically reducegreenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel economy for new cars and trucks sold in the United States.The new standards apply to passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles,covering model years 2012 through 2016. They require these vehicles to meet an estimated combinedaverage emissions level of 250 grams of carbon dioxide per mile, equivalent to 35.5 miles per gallon (MPG)if the automobile industry were to meet this carbon dioxide level solely through fuel economyimprovements. These standards will cut greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 960 million metrictons and 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the lifetime of the vehicles sold under the program.STATE OF FLORIDA PLANS AND POLICIESFlorida Transportation PlanThe 2025 Florida Transportation Plan (FTP) was updated and adopted in 2005. FDOT is currently in theprocess of creating the 2060 FTP Update. Instead of 20 years, the 2060 plan looks at a 50-year horizon.The 2060 plan has not yet been adopted. The 2025 Florida Transportation Plan (FTP) is Florida’sstatewide 20-year transportation plan, which provides a policy framework for allocating funding that will bespent to meet the transportation needs of the state. Florida is committed to providing livable communitiesand mobility for people and freight through greater connectivity and meeting the rising needs of businessesand households for safety, security, efficiency, and reliability. The FTP provides goals and objectives forFlorida’s transportation system. The long range goals and objectives that are pertinent to PSTA areprovided below.Tindale-Oliver & Associates, Inc.Pinellas Suncoast Transit AuthoritySeptember 2010 2-3 Transit Development Plan