Res. No. 377
Title
Resolution calling upon the Governor and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to commit to an expeditious transition to an electric bus fleet and to use electric buses as a robust part of its replacement service during the upcoming L train shutdown.
Body
By Council Members Espinal, Levin, Kallos, Lander and Rivera
Whereas, According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority ("MTA"), in 2019 it will shut down L train service between Manhattan and Brooklyn for 15 months in order to make Hurricane Sandy-related repairs, disrupting the commutes of over 200,000 daily weekday riders; and
Whereas, Many alternative service plans are under consideration, including increased bus service; and
Whereas, The pending L train shutdown, and the increased demand for bus service that it will create, presents a prime opportunity to utilize clean bus technology that would bring significant environmental and health benefits to the city; and
Whereas, Exhaust from diesel buses is a significant contributor to smog-creating nitrogen oxide pollution and particulate pollution, which contribute to high levels of asthma and other respiratory problems among the New York Metropolitan Area's residents, including nearly half a million children; and
Whereas, The City has set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent below 2005 levels by 2050; and
Whereas, According to a Columbia University analysis, converting the entire fleet to all-electric buses would result in an annual reduction of emissions within the city limits of approximately 575,000 metric tons of equivalent carbon dioxide (CO2e) and an estimated $100 of health care savings per resident per year; and
Whereas, Zero emission buses produce no pollution at the tailpipe and, according to the Sierra Club, even after factoring in emissions from electricity generation, each contributes up to 270,000 pounds less climate change-creating CO2e pollution per year compared to diesel or compressed n...
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