Because population and vehicle traffic have increased at rates that greatly exceed growth in highway capacity, the Dallas-Fort Worth area now suffers from stifling traffic congestion. The North Central Texas Council of Governments has identified $95 billion of highway and transit projects necessary to alleviate the worst of the region’s congestion problems, including $40 billion for construction and expansion of freeways to accommodate additional vehicle capacity.
Federal funding and permitting of these projects will be placed at risk if the region is unable to demonstrate that they will not contribute to violations of EPA’s tightened standard.