N.J. Sierra Club: NJ Transit Should Buy Electric Buses Instead of Dirty Diesel
Thursday, October 27, 2016
NJ Transit officials have allowed Officials at Motor Coach Industries to resume production of 1,219 "cruiser" buses. Though it is good that the funding is available after Governor Christie halted $3.5 billion in nonessential construction projects, we are disappointed that these buses are not electric.
Bus production has resumed now that Christie signed the Transportation Trust Fund bill. The $712 million allocated from the trust fund is for 1,394 buses, of which 1,104 have been approved, with the option to purchase 290 more buses. Cars, trucks, and buses are responsible for half of our nation’s oil consumption and one-fifth of carbon pollution. We hope the additional buses purchased are electric so NJ Transit can reduce our impact on climate change, clean our air, and save money. Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, issued the following statement:
“New Jersey instead of buying polluting old buses, needs to drive into the 21st century by becoming a leader in clean car technology. By buying 1,200 more diesel buses, the Christie Administration is clearly taking us backwards. When the contract got frozen we suggested they withdraw and purchase plug-in electric or electric buses, but the Administration failed to listen. In New Jersey, more than half of our air pollution comes from cars, trucks, and buses. NJ Transit should have required the purchase of new electric buses because we need to take immediate action to clean our air and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
“These diesel buses are a threat to public health, especially in urban communities who are overburdened with air pollution. The air toxins emitted from these buses’ exhaust pipe cause respiratory diseases and asthma attacks. Newark’s school children alone experience a 25 percent asthma rate, double the state and national rates. What is even worse is these communities are also experiencing pollution from the airports, ports, and major highways. That means that they suffer from air toxins that are a hundred times greater than air toxin standards.”
“Old diesel buses need to be replaced with new technology like compressed natural gas, hybrid electric or fully electric buses as seen in Oregon, Washington State, Chicago, and other places around the country. While New Jersey is already experiencing sea level rise, flooding, and more severe storms, we need to get serious about tackling climate change. The state could easily purchase plug-in electric buses or invest in electric buses that rely on Compressed Natural Gas. These buses cost more up front, but they are cheaper to run when you look at maintenance and gas costs. Instead of using conventional buses, electric buses could also help taxpayers save money on gas and reduce the deficits at NJ Transit.”
“Instead of plugging in for a cleaner and greener future, the NJ Transit is continuing the fossil foolishness of the past. Electric vehicles reduce emissions from refineries, drilling oil, and fossil fuel transportation. Currently our state only has 2,500 electric vehicles, when we need to be doing much more. New Jersey needs to do more to promote electric vehicles and most importantly charging stations. In order to get New Jersey moving in the right direction, we need more electric vehicles to be sold here and more incentives for consumers. NJ Transit should set an example for the rest of the state buy purchasing electric buses. They may need to purchase another 290 so we hope they consider going electric.”