The Franklin County Diesel School Bus Working Group first convened in June of 2004 with a workshop covering federal regulations for diesel engines, health impact studies, pollution control solutions and potential funding sources. Fleet managers from eight school districts (Bexley, Canal Winchester, Columbus, Franklin County MR/DD, Gahanna-Jefferson, New Albany-Plains, Westerville and Worthington) are active in the working group. The OEC is teaming with the fleet managers to find effective and affordable solutions, focusing on the 4-R’s of diesel clean up: Retrofit existing vehicles with pollution controls, Refuel with cleaner fuels, Replace older vehicles and Reduce idling.

Through the working group, OEC is providing a vital service to school districts by educating them on the health effects of diesel emissions on our community and children, and more importantly by working with them, both collectively and individually, to tailor solutions to their specific needs. Cash-strapped transportation departments and over-worked fleet managers and staff have little time to independently research the technology and funding options available to clean-up their fleet. OEC is able to identify these resources, make industry and funding contacts and provide workshops and one-on-one meetings to further develop these possibilities for the Diesel School Bus Working Group.

Since its inception, the members of the Diesel School Bus Working Group have worked to apply for retrofit funding assistance and to adopt idling reduction policies. Eight separate attempts have been made to secure funding assistance to retrofit and refuel bus fleets, reducing emissions by 20-90%. Two districts have been awarded grants totaling over a combined $1 million to install particulate filters on more than 160 buses. While retrofitting may require funding assistance, every district can adopt an idling policy, conserving fuel and precious tax dollars. Fortunately, four districts have showed leadership by adopting formal idling policies. The OEC presented to Westerville City Schools’ bus drivers during an in-service training on the important role they play in complying with the district’s new idling policy. Other districts are considering adoption of similar proposals. These formal policies are critical in reducing unnecessary exposure of students to diesel emissions and can boost a district’s chances of receiving competitive grants.

As OEC works with the fleet managers, we feel it is important to answer any concerns of the district’s Administration. We are working to expand our outreach capacity through direct interaction with Superintendents on the vital role idling policies can play in their school district. Certainly, the more districts that choose to adopt idling reduction policies the better for the health of our school children and the air quality of our community.

This project is funded by the James W. Overstreet, and Clifford and Mary Ozias Conservation and Forestry Fund of the Columbus Foundation ( www.columbusfoundation.org) and the Master Family Fund.

Grants Received

Several school districts in the Franklin CountyDiesel School Bus Working Group have received grants to retrofit their fleets with pollution controls and/or to refuel with cleaner burning diesel fuel. Below is a summary of the districts receiving grants, number of buses retrofitted, and the grant type and amount awarded.

Bexley City Schools

Number of buses retrofitted: 4 buses retrofitted; 2 bus replacements
Grant amount awarded: $62,600 Grant awarded: US EPA Clean School Bus USA

Columbus Public Schools

Number of buses retrofitted: 88 buses retrofitted
Grant amount awarded: $88,440
Grant awarded: Ohio EPA’s School Bus Diesel Retrofit Grant Program

Franklin County MR/DD

Number of buses retrofitted: 80 buses retrofitted; use of ultra low sulfur diesel fuel
Grant amount awarded: $593,600
Grant awarded: Clean Buses for Kids

Westerville City Schools

Number of buses retrofitted: 81 buses retrofitted; use of ultra low sulfur diesel fuel
Grant amount awarded: $620,133
Grant awarded: Clean Buses for Kids

Worthington Schools

Number of buses retrofitted: 26 buses retrofitted; 1 replacement
Grant amount awarded : $74,000
Grant awarded: US EPA Clean School Bus USA

This program is vital to the Franklin County community because it addresses one of the contributors to our poor air quality, diesel engines. In 2004, Franklin County was designated as failing federal air quality standards for ground-level ozone (smog) and fine particulate matter (soot). Diesel tailpipes contribute 72% of particulate matter and 42% of nitrogen oxide emissions from on-road mobile sources. Ozone contributes to aggravated respiratory ailments, particularly of sensitive populations including children, seniors and people with existing respiratory disease. Particulate matter has been linked to aggravated asthma attacks, chest pain, lung cancer and premature death. Children breathe 50% more air per pound of body weight than an adult making their developing lungs especially vulnerable to air pollution.

School buses are of concern because they transport special cargo, with children spending on average 1 ½ hours on a bus each day. That is a significant amount of time for them to be exposed to dangerous levels of these pollutants. A Yale Study has shown that children can be exposed to 5-15 times the background levels of particulate matter while on a school bus. It is important to note that a leading cause of school absenteeism due to chronic illness is asthma; with nationally more than 14 million school days missed every year and over 6.3 million children suffering from asthma. Aging bus fleets transporting students on vehicles with outdated emission standards may exacerbate this problem.

But, there are solutions available today. Pollution control equipment, cleaner fuels, alternative fuels, anti-idling technology and practices can dramatically reduce diesel emissions by as much as 90%. Efforts must be taken to protect children’s lungs and provide safe transportation. The working group is exploring the many options available to determine the best strategies for each school district. Our hope is to make school buses not only the safest mode of transportation, but the healthiest.

Take Action to Clean Up Dirty Diesel Engines