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EPA AWARDS GRANTS TO REDUCE POLLUTION FROM TRANSPORTATION SOURCES

Release Date: 08/15/2001
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Environmental News

EPA, under a new national transportation partnership program, is awarding grants to communities across the country. These grants, the first to be awarded under the Clean Air Transportation Communities program, are aimed at reducing emissions from transportation sources and enhancing energy efficiency in the transportation sector. Approximately $1.27 million, will be awarded to ten state, local or tribal government agencies to address transportation, air quality, and climate change issues.

The grants range in size from $59,275 to $250,000 and will be used for a variety of community programs that help reduce air emissions from vehicles and promote energy-efficiency. The grant recipients will implement programs that encourage ride-sharing, reduce truck idling and promote the use of low-emissions vehicles.

Transportation contributes about one-third of the greenhouse gas emissions nation-wide and is one of the single largest contributors of air pollution in the country. Reducing emissions from vehicles, promoting energy conservation and adopting energy-efficient programs helps to improve communities’ air quality.

The recipients will work in partnership with organizations in the community to help ensure the success of the proposed projects. Partnering organizations include utilities, transit providers, car sharing groups, private and not-for-profit organizations, manufacturers of vehicles using clean technologies and real estate developers.

This group of award winners are the first to receive funding as part of the “Clean Air Transportation Communities” grant competition. Eligible recipients must demonstrate a new tool for addressing transportation-related emissions that is innovative, has measurable emissions benefits, and can be used as a pilot for other communities.

The awards to the ten selected communities are:

California Air Resources Board, Sacramento, Calif., $171,000
“Community-based Transit Improvements: Simple Solutions and Measurable Results”

City and County of Denver, Dept. of Environmental Health, Denver, Colo., $72,549
“Ecotrans--a Multimodal Neighborhood Transportation Project”

Maryland Department of Planning, Baltimore, Md., area, $150,000
“Owings Mill Transit Oriented Development Project”

Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Manistee, Mich., $59,275
“On the Thunderbird Trail: Using Tribal Traditions to Reduce Vehicle Emissions”

Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, South Bronx, N.Y., $250,000
“Truck Stop and Terminal Electrification”

Indian Nations Council of Governments, Tulsa, Okla., $70,093
“Tulsa Air Quality Enhancement and Education Program”

City of Philadelphia, Pa., $200,000
“Human/Electric Powered Utility Vehicles”

King County, Seattle, Wash., $150,000
“Flexcar Hybrid Vehicle Program”

City of Vancouver, Wash., $63,876
“Green Fleet Shared Vehicle Project”

Dane County, Madison, Wis., $78,890
“Innovative Projects to Improve Air Quality & Reduce Greenhouse Gases: Commuter Choice ”

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