Discourse for all interested in all things air-quality related
It’s official: miles driven on America’s roadways in 2018 totaled 3.225 trillion. To repeat: 3.225 trillion miles, can you imagine?! This is according to information in the “Traffic Volume Trends – December 2018” report from the branch of the U.S. Department of Transportation known as the Federal Highway Administration. That’s a quarter-of-a-trillion more vehicle-miles driven … Read more
I think it’s silly: There are people who get all worked up over the mention of light rail and/or streetcar transit. What appears to get their gooses more than anything else is the thought of unsightly overhead catenary wire (the electrical distribution system for powering such networks – hint: there are some that operate catenary-free … Read more
The below Mar. 20, 2019 news release is from the California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board. California air quality regulators today [Mar. 20, 2019] released a report recommending actions to improve emergency and routine air monitoring at California’s major oil refineries and in the communities that surround them. “Many communities near major refineries live … Read more
There are transit systems and then there are transit systems. Take, for example, the Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar system. For Feb. 2019 ridership was 24,708. This compares to the Kansas City, Missouri’s average 175,150 riders per month tally for its system in 2018. Could the difference in the number of monthly boardings between the two … Read more
When shopping for a motor vehicle, what is one of the first considerations we ask dealer salespeople about having to do with vehicle specifications? What the fuel-efficiency rating is. Potential buyers want to know, among other things, how many miles to the (fuel) gallon a particular motor vehicle gets, that is, if it is not … Read more
The below Jan. 31, 2019 press release is from Vivarail. UK train designers and manufacturers Vivarail today revealed new visuals for their hydrogen train showing how their unique modular design will mean more seats for passengers as well as emission-free travel. Vivarail’s on-going success in launching new technologies to the UK market means it is … Read more
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Tues., Feb. 12, 2019 in his first State of the State address since taking office announced a new plan for the state’s high-speed rail project. The plan is to scale the project back. The California governor, on this issue, was steadfast in his resolve. Having to do with this in … Read more
Living in a part of the U.S. – California’s San Joaquin Valley (Valley) – that year after year experiences some of the worst episodes of air pollution – ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) – well, in this regard, there is certainly much to be desired. I speak from experience. So, now that … Read more
The below Jan. 25, 2019 press release is from the Center for Biological Diversity. Legislation introduced Thursday [Jan. 24, 2019] by Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) and Rep. Francis Rooney (R-Fla.) would eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate and address greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and mobile sources like cars, trains and airplanes … Read more
It has been reported that if high-speed rail were placed on the California ballot today the electorate would vote it down. While that may be true, it would not be a landslide defeat. There are still a considerable number of Californians that continue to support the project, myself included. So, keep in mind that California … Read more