Air Quality Matters blog introspection and other thoughts

After almost a-year-and-a-quarter into writing and 297 posts later, the Air Quality Matters blog journey continues. The journey so far has been interesting, enlightening; no question. When I think about it, I can’t say with certainty exactly what it was that prompted my interest in air quality issues, but I would have to believe the … Read more

Weather no answer in solving toxic air crisis

Polluted air go away and don’t come back another day. Don’t I wish! Lately I have read what seems like scores of articles drawing attention to the weather. There appears to be no shortage of news related to the drought and warm temperatures that have been affecting the U.S. west as well as the cold, frigid, Arctic … Read more

Garbage disposal: Rubbish not just for burning and dumping anymore

Garbage disposal is not rocket science, but it’s no easy endeavor either. As is typical in cities, armies of sanitation workers are charged with the task of picking up refuse (and recyclables where applicable) in an armada of waste-collection vehicles that are there to haul away the solid waste- and recycle-material, which is itself typically … Read more

Transportation’s contribution to air pollution could be much, much less if …

If I were to tell you that an automobile manufacturing mogul and a leading auto-membership-association executive both touted personal mobility and public transportation use, what would you think? Would not such a notion seem incredulous? I don’t know about you but, in my view, it would. Here’s what I’m getting at. At DC.Streetsblog.org, Angie Schmitt provides the … Read more

Lower immune system function/soot exposure link, research shows

In “Can PM 2.5 lead to early mortality?,” I posed the question: “… (I)f PM 2.5 is not unhealthy, then why a corresponding scale related to such and at times fine particulate matter readings go above 100, why the associated ‘Unhealthy’ or ‘Hazardous’ designations?” Well, there is more regarding soot as it has to do … Read more

TIFFS: Sidelined ‘n’ singin’ the single-track blues

Number nine in the Transport in a Fine Fix Series. In “Making the grade – Part 1: American infrastructure report card: Rails,” it was written: “As it relates, particulars like capital investment and on-time performance are barometers of ridership strength or weakness.” In concluding, asked was how American rail infrastructure could be improved. The response: “Infrastructure improvement … Read more

Re emissions-savings, utilization, value, train-time vs maritime: And the winner is …

About a year from now, an upgraded, vastly expanded and improved Panama Canal will open its gates. Making their way through the canal itself will be eastward- and westward-traveling ships once this happens – not unlike what is transpiring presently. A key difference, however, will be in regard to ship size and numbers. Presumably, the numbers … Read more

Rails vs roads for value, utilization, emissions-savings: difference like night and day

The Valley MetroRail light rail transit system in the greater Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area has been in operation now for five years. When it opened for business for all intents and purposes in Jan. 2009, for the 20-mile, 28 station, $1.4 billion so-called “starter” system, average weekday boardings were projected to be 26,000. In 2012, … Read more

America’s on-the-road cars, light-duty trucks cleaner

The divide between the number of cars and trucks with reduced or no emissions available and the number of cars and trucks with reduced or no emissions actually on American roads, appears to be narrowing. Not only this, but, greater is average internal-combustion-engine-vehicle-fuel-economy. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a Dec. 12, 2013 news release … Read more