Federal Regulations (23 CFR 490) require that MPOs in urban areas (UAs) with populations over 200,000 that are also in air quality nonattainment or maintenance areas for any of three pollutants (ozone, carbon monoxide, or particulate matter) conduct performance-based planning using National Performance Measures, including two PM3 CMAQ traffic congestion measures:

• Percent non-single occupant vehicle (non-SOV) travel;
• Annual hours of peak hour excessive delay (PHED) per capita.

Requirements include establishing two- and four-year targets, reporting mid- and final-performance period progress, and evaluating adjustments to four-year targets.

DVRPC facilitated efforts with the Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD and Trenton, NJ urban area PM3 CMAQ traffic congestion coordination groups to assess four-year performance against four-year targets for the second performance period (2022-2025) and to agree on two- and four-year targets for the third performance period (2026-2029). DVRPC held a meeting on April 2, and invited each of the urban area coordination groups’ appropriate MPO, DOT, FHWA representatives, and other interested agencies to assess performance and discuss considerations in setting two- and four-year targets. Final meetings were held separately with each of the urban area coordination groups on May 8 and 9, resulting in each group reaching agreement on supporting two- and four-year targets for the third performance period (2026-2029).   

DVRPC has participated in efforts in assessing performance and setting two- and four-year targets led by NJTPA for the New York-Newark, NJ-NJ-CT urban area since small portions of that urban area exists within the DVRPC MPO. Final targets have not been agreed on yet. 

The RTC recommends the DVRPC Board approve the PM3 CMAQ Traffic Congestion two- and four-year targets for the percent non-SOV travel and the annual hours of peak hour excessive delay (PHED) per capita measures for the Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD and Trenton, NJ Urban Areas for the third reporting period (2026-2029).