San Francisco, CA Resolution for an Alternative Fuels Bus Program

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted by the San Francisco Commission on the Environment on 1/16/01
Vote: In Favor - 6 Opposed - 0 Absent - 0
Source File: http://www.sfenvironment.org/downloads/library/elsbusprogramjanuary162001.doc
Text:
Resolution No. 001-01-COE [Alternative Fuels Bus Program]
URGING THE SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY TRANSPORATION AUTHORITY TO AUTHORIZE ONLY FUNDING FOR ALTERNATIVE FUEL BUSES AND NOT FOR ANY NEW DIESEL BUSES. 
WHEREAS, air and water pollution represent significant environmental problems for the State of California and the City and County of San Francisco; and 
WHEREAS, on July 10th, 1999 the EPA redesignated the San Francisco Bay Area from maintenance to non-attainment for the Federal one-hour ozone standard; and 
WHEREAS, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently adopted a set of regulations requiring transit agencies to choose a cleaner diesel path or an alternative fuel path to further reduce air pollution from the most populated areas of the State, and 
WHEREAS, the Commission on the Environment and the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco adopted resolutions outlining the adverse health and environmental effects of diesel and urging the San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI) to select the alternative fuel path of the CARB regulations; and 
WHEREAS, at least 30 of California’s transit districts have selected CARBs alternative fuel path; and 
WHEREAS, 22 public transit districts in California have been successful in incorporating natural gas fueled buses into their transit systems; and 
WHEREAS, alternative fuel transit buses are eligible for Federal, State and local funding; and 
WHEREAS, the San Francisco Municipal Railway is California’s 3rd largest public transit district and serves California’s 2nd largest metropolitan area, and is therefore ideally positioned to lead all Bay Area transit districts toward cleaner technologies; and 
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Healthy Air and Smog Prevention Ordinance, the Public Transportation Commission (now the Municipal Transportation Agency) is required to implement an alternative fuels pilot program for the purpose of developing fueling specifications for the first planned Department of Public Transportation bid package; and 
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Healthy Air and Smog Prevention Ordinance, the Public Transportation Commission (now the Municipal Transportation Agency) is required to identify heavily traveled diesel bus lines that may be appropriate for conversion to cleaner, quieter electric trolley bus lines; and 
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Healthy Air and Smog Prevention Ordinance, the Public Transportation Commission (now the Municipal Transportation Agency) is required to develop a plan to phase out the use of diesel buses that have been in service for a time period greater than the time period set forth by the applicable federal funding guidelines; and 
WHEREAS, by adopting cleaner alternatives to diesel, such as natural gas and fuel cell buses, MUNI can begin replacement of its existing fleet of 455 diesel buses; and 
WHEREAS, the staff of the Municipal Railway is recommending the diesel path to comply with the CARB transit bus emission regulations; now, therefore, be it 
RESOLVED, that the Commission on the Environment urges the San Francisco Municipal Railway to comply with the Healthy Air and Smog Prevention Ordinance, including the alternative fuel pilot project, with all due haste; and, be it 
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commission on the Environment urges the Clean Air program of the Department of the Environment to complete an analysis of the San Francisco Municipal Railway staff report and provide a written response to the San Francisco County Transportation Authority and MUNI; and, be it 
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commission on the Environment urges the Department of Public Health to complete a full analysis with fifteen year projections of the health and environmental impacts of both diesel and alternative fuels; and, be it 
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commission on the Environment urges San Francisco Municipal Railway to complete a comprehensive plan and feasibility study for an alternative fuel bus program, including an analysis of infrastructure costs, training, procurement and a timeline; and, be it 
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commission on the Environment urges the San Francisco County Transportation Authority to authorize only funding for alternative fuel buses and not for any new diesel buses.
Category:California
Category:City-County Governments
Category:Gas-Powered Transportation
Category:Resolutions
Category:San Francisco
Category:Toxics and Pollution