Franklin County has never had an emissions test program, and will join efforts to reduce air pollution for the first time with the Gateway Clean Air Program. Also in July, they may also RapidScreen, which is also valid for two years. Despite improvements in the air quality in the St. Louis region over the past 10 years, air pollution levels still exceed health-based standards . There are currently more than a million vehicles on St. Louis area roads. By the year 2005, we will be driving more than 53 million miles every weekday, compared to the 41 million miles we drive today.
Vehicle emissions are a major contributor to air pollution.
Changing to the new enhanced inspection and maintenance program will help vehicles in the region run more efficiently and pollute less. The Gateway Clean Air Program and the new enhanced emissions test will be implemented in the spring 2000. There will be a total of 10 specialized stations performing the new enhanced emissions test and five remote sensing vans throughout the region for RapidScreen. All stations will be strategically located so that 80 percent of all motorists in the affected areas will be within five miles of the nearest station. In Franklin County, in addition to two stationary stations, there will be two mobile testing units.