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EPA ANNOUNCES APPROVAL OF THE ATLANTIC STEEL TRANSPORTATION CONTROL MEASURE INTO THE GEORGIA STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

Release Date: 08/24/2000
Contact Information: Carl Terry, (404) 562-8325, terry.carl@epa.gov

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced the approval of the Atlantic Steel Transportation Control Measure (TCM) into the Georgia State Implementation Plan (SIP). The SIP is Georgia's plan for meeting the health-based National Ambient Air Quality Standards for clean air in all areas of the State. A TCM is a measure taken for the purpose of reducing emissions or concentrations of air pollutants from transportation sources by reducing vehicle use or changing traffic patterns. This TCM is based in part on the Atlantic Steel XL (eXcellence and Leadership) project agreement signed between Jacoby Development and EPA in September 1999. It is the first TCM in the country to explicitly recognize the air pollution benefits of well designed "smart growth" development. The Atlantic Steel TCM represents another significant milestone in the redevelopment of the site. The redevelopment will transform a former steel mill into a 138-acre mix of residential, shopping and commercial uses-one of the largest urban redevelopment initiatives in the country. The redevelopment plan incorporates many "smart growth" site design principles that promote pedestrian and transit access rather than exclusive reliance on cars. Also planned is a new 17th Street bridge that will cross over and provide access from the Interstates and connect the site to the nearby Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Arts Center station. The new bridge will be designed with dedicated lanes for vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, and transit and may eventually carry MARTA rail lines. The Atlantic Steel TCM is comprised of both the proposed redevelopment and the 17th Street bridge and associated roadway improvements. The Atlantic Steel TCM has the potential to reduce future transportation-related emissions of volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen (precursors to ground-level ozone formation). Additionally, the Atlantic Steel TCM includes federally-enforceable monitoring and evaluation requirements, site design criteria, a commitment to provide transit, and performance targets that will help ensure that the project will achieve emissions reductions. In response to public comments on the proposed TCM, EPA, the State of Georgia, the City of Atlanta and the developer have further solidified the air pollution benefits of this project. These improvements include: stronger monitoring provisions for the project; performance targets for total vehicle trips; redesigning the 17th Street extension to include pedestrian-friendly design measures; lengthening the developer's commitment to provide shuttle service from the MARTA Arts Center station to at least 2015; and expanding the developer's commitment to meet with neighborhood groups in reviewing the site plan and travel monitoring results.