Protecting Air Quality: Cleaner burning fuel buses and smoother freeways reduce Orange County’s carbon footprint.
Each week, new compressed natural gas (CNG) buses roll into Orange County, replacing diesel buses.
CNG vehicles will comprise 52 percent of OCTA’s bus fleet by the end of 2009. The cleaner burning fuel is proven to significantly reduce smog-producing gases.
- Carbon monoxide is reduced by more than 90 percent
- Nitrogen oxides are reduced by more than 60 percent
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) is reduced by 30 percent to 40 percent
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) buses currently comprise 40 percent of the bus fleet. LNG reduces pollutants by 50 percent compared to diesel. OCTA is expected to replace all of its buses by 2012 with CNG or another available or required cleaner-burning fuel.
Commuters can reduce their carbon footprint by taking public transportation
1,500 pounds of CO2 are produced a year by riding the bus opposed to 11,700 pounds of CO2 when driving alone – a savings of 87%.
Smoother freeways equal a healthier environment
Every five minutes of cars idling in the U.S. produces 13 million tons of carbon dioxide.
OCTA currently has 18 freeway projects under way that equals more than $2 billion in improvements. The projects are spread throughout the county and are designed to keep Orange County moving, not idling in traffic.
State guidelines to give way for analyzing greenhouse gas emissions
Recently, the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research released preliminary draft guidelines for analyzing greenhouse gas emissions under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Under SB 97, projects that go through the environmental review process are required to analyze greenhouse gas emissions. Finalized guidelines must be approved by the California Air Resources Board by Jan. 1, 2010.
OCTA is analyzing the recently released guidelines and will continue to work closely with all parties involved to create feasible and effective methods of mitigation.
Plan approved for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
By 2020, California’s greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced to 1990 levels, as required under AB 32 – the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. In December, the California Air Resources Board approved a scoping plan, which will act as the blueprint for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the required levels.
The scoping plan recommends measures for reducing emissions related to numerous fields including transportation, energy and land use.
OCTA is working closely with stakeholders and the California Air Resources Board to ensure that the proposals included are implemented in a cost-effective and reasonable manner, and in a way that protects planned transportation projects, the economy and the environment.