RailRunner: What has been the impact on I-25 Traffic Flow and Pollutant Emissions?

RailRunner: What has been the impact on I-25 Traffic Flow and Pollutant Emissions? Presented by: Shirley Maurer -Farmington High School Sandra Smith- Capitan Middle School Mentors: Donald Smith STI guys (Dale, Willard, Chris)

PROBLEM • According to the reported data from national and local data banks; CO, particulate matter and NO2 emissions have steadily risen in the past ten years. Increased population and traffic in the greater Albuquerque area have increased these emissions. The State, County, and City governments of the surrounding Albuquerque area have come together with a solution to lower these levels. Improvement in the quality of air and traffic congestion by instituting a rail system and expanding that system from Belen to Bernalillo and Santa Fe.

PURPOSE • The purpose of this project is to model effects the rail system has on air quality and traffic flow and congestion. Comparing emission data of Railrunners first year against previous year levels of increases should allow the projection of emission levels. Emission increases in CO, NO2, Particulate Matter >10,increase in population and traffic flow will be apparent. The averages created predictions and conclusions which show differences to date. Future expansion of the rail system will have a positive impact on air quality and traffic patterns.

PROCEDURE • We gathered data from national data banks and local sources to get the actual and estimated number of emissions, traffic flow, RailRunner capacity and its current passenger rate. • We used Starlogo TNG to create a working traffic flow model. This included vehicles and the train. • We took an estimate of the population for Albuquerque based on the Census Bureau data and projected populations and got the average percent of annual growth.

Procedure cont. EPA data averages of annual emissions provided average annual percent of increase of emissions. NM DOT and Albuquerque provided data for traffic flow numbers which allowed for an annual average rate of increase in traffic flow.

Procedure cont. • Data was recorded into an excel spreadsheet allowing graphs to be formulated on each of the variables. Variables used to make predictions were increased emissions, population, traffic flow, and addition of railway cars over time. • The StarLogo TNG model would then be modified to effectively model the data and extend any predictions. The model allowed us to look at other possible outcomes if variables were changed.

POPULATION GROWTH

PM>10

NO2

CO EMISSIONS

Traffic flow increase (inc) with & without additional RailRunner Cars

Conclusions • The impact the current system will have on all issues considered (i.e. population, traffic flow, CO,NO2,PM emissions) will be limited without the extension of the RailRunner system. What is of particular interest is the increased growth patterns in traffic flow and congestion without the additional use of the RailRunner system. Utilization of any additional rail cars or routes will decrease the impact of these problems significantly. Frankly, without any additional rail cars or routes the future increase in traffic flow and congestion will outweigh any gains the RailRunner system can create. Additionally, although the impact on emissions currently is minimal, the increase in emissions will begin to have a greater impact.

References • http://factfinder.census.gov/ • http://www.cabq.gov/airquality/airqualitymonitoringdata.html.com • http://www.cabq.gov/airquality/airqualityinformation.html • http://www.nmrailrunner.com/news.asp • http://nmshtd.state.nm.us/

RailRunner: What has been the impact on I-25 Traffic Flow and Pollutant Emissions?