On March 9, Dr. Alan Vette, from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, gave a seminar regarding exposure assessments of air pollutants.
Starting his presentation, Vette said, “Here in America, we have a love affair with the automobile.”
To follow his comment, Vette presented many startling facts that generally linked exposure to traffic to many human illnesses. He said, “Increased intensity of traffic patterns result in higher levels of air pollutants from vehicles.”
Vette’s facts and statements instantly prompted questions from those in the audience, with the focus being the location of campus close to a major city, and the traffic patterns that accompany the big city.
When speaking to Thomas Kendig, the director of transportation, and Christine Klein, the information and communication specialist, listed many things the department is doing to limit the amount of pollutants emitted around campus.
Kendig and Klein reiterated the main goal of Transportation, which is mass transit. They said, “We encourage students and faculty to use buses and carpools.”
To encourage students and faculty to use public transportation and carpools, Transportation offers partner programs, including the U-pass.
The U-pass allows students and faculty to ride the Triangle Transit Authority buses and the Capital Area Transit System for no cost. These buses take people all around the triangle area.
When addressing air pollutions with regard to the Wolfline buses, Kendig said, “We have one of the cleanest bus fleets in the nation.”
Kendig then went on to explain that the Wolfline buses are new and use a clean diesel fuel which, according to Transportation, has ultra low sulfur levels.
Along with the new clean diesel fuel, Kendig explained the particulate filters found on the new buses. These filters reduced the amount of solid pollution that goes into the air.
According to transportation, the combination of fuel and the particulate filters lowers air pollution by up to 90 percent. According to the department, the difference of the new buses is visible.
Klein said, “When drivers used to step on the gas of the old buses, a black smog came out, but on the new buses it is clear.”
When asked if what Transportation was doing to reduce air pollutions would make an impact, Vette said, “It certainly can. No matter what, by reducing the number of vehicles on the road lowers pollution measurements.”
In response to the particulate filters found on the new buses, Vette said, “Filters decrease large particle emissions, but actually increases small particulate matter emissions.”
Although the new buses have been found to have a few environmental downfalls, Kendig said, “We are continuing to find ways to serve our campus.”
Kendig and Klein elaborated on the new carpool parking permit that will be available next year. The permit will be available to a car with two or more students and the permit will have priority parking as well as a reduced cost. Kendig and Klein hope this will convince students to ride to school together, which, in hand, reduces air pollution from vehicles.
Transportation is also looking at the idea of getting a car-sharing program on campus, which would allow students to use a car when needed without having a car on campus.
Transportation also has Torsha Bhattacharya on staff. Bhattacharya’s job title is transportation planner/ Wolftrails manager, and her job includes attending conferences and seminars that keep transportation centers up-to-date on new ways to reduce air pollution and emissions.
Transportation realizes the problem at hand and continues to work with Healthy NC State and the Office of Sustainability to reduces air pollutants on campus.
