Joint Advisory Committee for the Improvement of Air Quality

Background information:

The Paso del Norte air basin currently exceeds U.S. and Mexican ambient air quality standards for ozone, CO and PM10. Mobile source emissions are a principle contributor to ozone and CO air quality problems, representing 65% of basin wide VOC emissions, 50% of basin wide NOx emissions and 90% of basin wide CO emissions. Long queue times at the international bridges increase VOC , CO and NOx emissions given prolonged idling of vehicles. Minor changes in the average inspection time result in dramatic impacts on the overall delay in the bridge crossing time and corresponding air pollution emissions.

For four hundred years, the Paso del Norte has been the gateway between the US and Mexico, and accounts for over 25% of trade between the US and Mexico. NAFTA is rapidly accelerating trade, projected to grow by more than 40% in the next four years. An increase of 10 seconds in inspection time resulted in quadrupling the delay associated with international crossing and as well as vehicle emissions. CO emissions from bridges have been estimated at about 3.5% of the total vehicular emissions inventory; however, the site-specific ambient concentrations have been measured as very high. This project would promote the expansion of the DCL concept to the other international bridges in the air basin.

Cost/Cost Effectiveness

The fee to participate in the DCL is estimated to be around $130 US per year. Mexican toll charges will be in the same order as the US. The estimated construction cost is $1.7 million US. Being idled at the bridges, and accounting for the cost of gas, man hours, car wear and tear, among other costs, will add up to a higher value than the daily cost per trip using the DCL.This also applies to students attending schools in El Paso, whose man hour costs are lower.

Significance of Impact

DCLs allow commuters to purchase an annual pass to cross from Juarez into El Paso in an expedited manner. A proposed DCL for the Stanton Street Bridge is schedule for a March 1999 opening. The expected crossing time is estimated to be approximately 3 minutes (reduced from an average of 30 minutes with peaks of up to an hour and a half). The operation of the DCL will positively impact economic development, yield environmental improvement and foster social integration. The DCL is open to any person regardless of nationality and is expected to enroll between 7,000 and 10,000 users.

What is the likely impact of this project on ambient concentrations?

Potentially, up to 1% of the total air basin emissions, but significantly high impact on ambient concentrations in a micro-region surrounding the bridges.

Does it have the potential to achieve emissions reductions of multiple pollutants?

Yes: CO, VOCs and NOx.

Feasibility

The Stanton Bridge north bound DCL is expected to open the first quarter