As of June 2005 every bus in the school bus fleet has been running on Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD). A majority of this fleet will also be retrofitted with a DOC filter within the next few months.

The Upper Darby School District borders Philadelphia to the west and includes over 12,000 students. Around 7,000 students, including private school students, are bused daily throughout the school year. The buses cover roughly 1 million miles a year. A few years ago, school officials learned of funding opportunities through a Diesel Difference workshop. In 2004 UDSD was awarded a 2-year Clean School Bus US grant to retrofit their school bus fleet with filters. Abby Lang, Grant Coordinator of the District, was involved in the application process and is now assisting in the implementation of the program. She is very excited about the developments and indicates things are going very well.

The District received the first batch of DOC filters during the summer of 2005. They will be fitted to the bus fleet over the 2005-06 school year. UDSD is also about to adopt an anti-idling policy to reduce fuel consumption and children’s exposure to exhaust fumes. Drivers will be educated on new procedures beginning in the fall of 2005.

Edward Spence, Transportation

http://www.epa.gov/reg3artd/vehicletran/vehicles/schoolbus.htm

http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/demo_projects.htm