w lat are participants doing now? The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is ret- rofitting their entire fleet of diesel buses with particulate matter filters and fueling these buses with ultra low sulfur diesel fuel. The MBTA also operates a fleet of 360 buses that run on compressed natural gas. Boston Public Schools is retrofitting their fleet of 600 school buses and the City of Medford is retrofitting 70 buses that serve Medford and 13 surrounding communities. These buses are being fitted with advanced pollution controls and fueled with ultra low sulfur diesel fuel. ^ The shuttle buses that service the Longwood Medical Area of Boston have been equipped with particulate matter filters and run on ultra low sulfur diesel fuel, reducing per bus e missions by more than 90 Dercent. I tat 'ard Jnivei^ity^o )er, ting all of it' die nel /ehicles onbkx iesel Ai •!, ac'^an,ri ne ^ailefu J. ^ Boston Coach has established a stringent anti-idling program for all of its buses and vehicles for hire, which is saving them money and helping to reduce pollution. > Employers from the Boston area have Joined the list of New England's Best Workplaces for (!on mi ters, w lich spotlights New England employers offering outstanding commuter benefits that help reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. . greater boston . breathes Y bur organization can become part of Greater Boston Breathes Better: ^ Participate actively in one or more EPA voluntary programs (or undertake a unique project) for reducing emissions from construction and/or transportation sources. ^ Share your technical and programmatic knowledge with new partners in organized workshops and events. C jmn unicate your company's success stories and lessons learned \\ th case studies, fact sheets, and presentations. ^ Receive national and regional recognition for your commitment to improving public health and the environment. The air you breathe shouldn't United States Environmental Protection Agency New England 1 Congress Street Boston, MA 02114 EPA 901-F-04-007 December 2004 United States Environmental Protection Agency New England ------- , greater boston ** breather better id you know that in the Greater Boston Area... hrough Greater Boston Breathes Better, we can: Implementing and enforcing idle-reduction measures for trucks, buses and passenger vehicles; Promoting commuting via public transportation, walking, biking, and car pooling; Helping the freight industry improve the energy efficiency of their vehicles and operations; Equipping school buses with advanced pollution-reduction technologies such as catalysts, filters, and cleaner fuels; Supplying shuttle bus fleets, truck fleets, and other vehicles— on and off-road—with advanced technologies such as catalysts, filters, and cleaner fuels. >• Reduce air pollution ^ Decrease asthma attacks and hospitalizations for other air pollution-related ailments *• Meet natic lal standards foi air quality > Help Greater Boston Breathe Better! Traffic congestion costs $1.4 billion annually in lost productivity and wasted fuel? Transportation and construction contributes more than 1/3 of fine particle air pollution, more than 1/2 of smog- forming air pollution and about 1/3 of carbon dioxide emissions? One in nine children in New England has asthma, and children in some Boston neighborhoods visit the emergency room twice a i often as in other parts of the country? • Ai piJ'ntioi is i heal h isk t( everyone, especially for ch Idren Jic tht elde ly! Air pollution aggravates asthma and other respiratory ailments and can cause lung cancer, birth defects, and nerve damage. Voluntary actions by local businesses, institutions and other organizations can help postpone or even eliminate the need for addinonal regulations? ------- |