ERIC Number: ED602602
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Aug
Pages: 48
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
From Yellow to Green: Reducing School Transportation's Impact on the Environment
Burgoyne-Allen, Phillip; O'Keefe, Bonnie
Bellwether Education Partners
Diesel buses and personal vehicle trips for school transportation emit millions of tons of greenhouse gases per year into the environment, which contribute to global warming, and expose children to harmful pollutants that can affect their health and academic performance. What would it take for the yellow school bus--and school transportation systems as a whole--to go green? There are several impact reduction strategies districts can consider, with a range of cost and effectiveness implications: (1) idling time reduction; (2) diesel retrofits; (3) propane and CNG buses; (4) electric buses; and (5) walking and biking. Beyond environmental benefits, some impact reduction strategies can create long-term savings for districts by reducing fuel use, maintenance needs, and energy costs. This brief examines cases of electric school bus pilots, pros and cons of impact reduction strategies, funding streams for environmental improvements, and recommended next steps for states and districts to lessen the environmental impact of the journey to school. [This report is part of a series of publications on school transportation policy. The policy briefs build on the 2019 slide deck "The Challenges and Opportunities in School Transportation Today" and the 2017 report, "Miles to Go: Bringing School Transportation into the 21st Century" (ED602698).]
Descriptors: Student Transportation, Conservation (Environment), School Buses, Financial Support, Pollution, Climate, Motor Vehicles, Costs, Busing, Fuels, Physical Activities, Federal Legislation, Federal Aid, State Aid, Elementary Secondary Education
Bellwether Education Partners. e-mail: contactus@bellwethereducation.org; Web site: http://bellwethereducation.org
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Walton Family Foundation
Authoring Institution: Bellwether Education Partners
Identifiers - Location: New York; Massachusetts
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A