Transit Buses

Public transportation can be an effective way to reduce air pollution caused by automobiles. However, in order to maximize the air quality effects of mass transit, transit buses must be clean and utilize modern pollution controls. To see side-by-side videos comparing pollution levels inside a dirty vs. retrofitted bus, click here.

Although technology is available to clean up diesel bus engines, unfortunately the vast majority of buses operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Pace Suburban Bus Service in the Chicago metropolitan area do not use these technologies. This is a serious health threat given that soot levels inside dirty buses can be four times higher than outdoor air, which presents health dangers to bus passengers and workers.

For more information on CTA and PACE dirty bus fleet, click here.

Health effects

The exhaust from diesel buses contains more than 40 toxic air contaminants, carcinogens, ozone smog-forming compounds, and fine particulate matter ("soot"). Exposure to fine particles is known to cause asthma attacks, heart attacks, lung cancer, strokes and even premature death.

In Illinois alone, it is estimated that diesel exhaust triggers more than 31,000 asthma attacks, causes more than 1,300 heart attacks and leads to approximately 875 premature deaths each year. Although diesel pollution is unhealthy for everyone, children, seniors, occupational workers and people who live with lung disease are especially at risk. 

Solutions

Today, the federal government requires all newly manufactured school diesel buses (model 2007 and later) to be equipped with pollution controls called diesel particulate filters, which can eliminate up to 90% of diesel soot from a tailpipe. These same pollution controls are commercially available and should be installed on older dirty diesel school buses as well.

In addition to installing these controls, schools can clean up their diesel school bus fleet by:

• Installing closed-crankcase filtration devices. These can help eliminate diesel exhaust emitted directly from the engine compartment.
• Installing anti-idling technology. Using automatic idling controls, such as auxiliary power units, engine stop/start technologies, and direct-fired heaters can reduce pollution and save fuel.
• Implementing diesel no idling policies. These policies help schools reduce diesel pollution by curbing unnecessary idling. 

 

How you can help

• Call on CTA and PACE to clean up their dirty buses.
• Sign on as an endorser of our Illinois Campaign to Clean Up Diesel Pollution. Individual and organizational endorsers can fill out our endorsement form.
• Sign up for E-Advocacy to learn more about our ongoing advocacy efforts and how you can help improve the lung health of your community.