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StarTran Joins Blue Skyways Collaborative Seeking to Reduce Air Pollution in Lincoln Area

Release Date: 11/06/2008
Contact Information: David Bryan, 913-551-7433, bryan.david@epa.gov

Pictured left to right are: Mayor Chris Beutler, Lincoln, Larry Worth, City of Lincoln Transit Manager, and John Askew, EPA Region 7 administrator.

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Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., Nov. 6, 2008) - StarTran, the mass transit agency for Lincoln, Neb., has joined the Blue Skyways Collaborative as a partner in reducing air pollution. StarTran joins 184 other Blue Skyways partners who are working to reduce air pollution in 10 states in the heart of the United States.

StarTran is acknowledged nationally as a leader within the transit industry in the utilization and promotion of Clean Diesel/Alternative Fuels Programs. Between 1994 and 2000, four ethanol-powered (95 percent ethanol, 5 percent gasoline) buses were operated in regular transit service. In 2000, the engines were replaced, and until 2008, the entire fleet was powered by an 8 percent ethanol/92 percent diesel fuel blend. Since January 1994, two StarTran buses have been powered by biodiesel fuel (75 percent diesel/25 percent soybean oil). Since 2008, the entire fleet has been powered by biodiesel. More than 341,000 gallons of alternate fuels are used by the 60 fixed-route buses. Biodiesel use significantly reduces exhaust emissions and lowers overall diesel fuel use.

EPA Region 7 Administrator John Askew said, "We want to celebrate and recognize StarTran for its efforts to reduce air emissions from its equipment. We're proud to welcome this new partner to the Blue Skyways Collaborative."

StarTran's efforts will reduce annual air pollution emissions by the following amounts:

• 10 tons of carbon monoxide
• 556 tons of carbon dioxide
• 3 tons of hydrocarbons
• 15 tons of nitrogen oxides
• More than 1.43 tons of particulate matter

"StarTran has a long history of innovation in reducing the impact of its vehicles on our environment. We are proud that the efforts of our transit system have earned it a place in the Blue Skyways Collaborative," said Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler. "As a partner, StarTran will have greater access to the expertise and resources that can help it make even more progress in reducing air pollution."

The Blue Skyways Collaborative leverages resources and shares professional and technical expertise with public and private entities in the 10-state region of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, New Mexico, Iowa and Minnesota, and border areas of Canada and Mexico. The collaborative has grown to 184 partners who work with EPA to complete projects that use innovations in diesel engines, alternative fuels and renewable energy technologies to reduce air emissions along major transportation corridors. To date, the partnership has implemented about $1.1 billion in projects spanning all 10 states.

Since 2006, Blue Skyways partners have cut pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds by more than 52,000 tons per year; reduced greenhouse gases by 1.6 million tons per year; and saved 76 million gallons of fuel per year.