MPC Research Reports
Report Details

Title:	Assessing the Cost-Effectiveness of Wyoming's CMAQ Unpaved Road Dust Suppression Program, Year 1
Authors:	Christopher Chamberlin and Khaled Ksaibati
University:	University of Wyoming
Publication Date:	Sep 2019
Report #:	MPC-19-386A
Project #:	MPC-451
TRID #:	01718512
Keywords:	cost effectiveness, dust control, evaluation and assessment, optimization, recommendations, statistical analysis, unpaved roads

Abstract

The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program was implemented to provide funding to transportation projects that contribute to air quality improvements. Wyoming has used these funds for a number of years to apply dust suppressants to unpaved roads around the state. Many of these roads are impacted by oil and gas drilling activities. Decisions as to where these funds should be applied are based on subjective judgment. Methods for applying the suppressants to roads have also been based on engineering judgment. However, there is no system in place for determining the effectiveness of dust treatment. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the CMAQ program in Wyoming. A second objective is to provide recommendations on optimizing future use of CMAQ funds. This study utilizes field data and comprehensive statistical analysis to prove the effectiveness of various dust suppressants. This includes monitoring dust suppressant application, surfacing aggregate type, traffic, weather, roadway performance, and fugitive dust emissions to provide a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of the dust suppression efforts paid for with CMAQ funds. Analysis of field data is also used to provide recommendations on developing a statistical model for the most cost effective use of future CMAQ funding.

Related Reports

• [Final Report] Assessing the Cost-Effectiveness of Wyoming's CMAQ Unpaved Road Dust Suppression Program, Year 2

How to Cite

Chamberlin, Christopher, and Khaled Ksaibati. Assessing the Cost-Effectiveness of Wyoming's CMAQ Unpaved Road Dust Suppression Program, Year 1, MPC-19-386A. North Dakota State University - Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, Fargo: Mountain-Plains Consortium, 2019.