Massachusetts is set to refit many of the state's large school buses with diesel emissions controls after a programme was announced to fit the vehicles with diesel particulate filters.

A total of 5,500 buses will have the filters fitted under new plans announced by Governor Deval Patrick.

He said the plans would reduce emissions and stop children having to breathe in the fumes of buses that carry them to school.

The state will also pay for the filters that will be placed on most of the large buses in the region.

Part of the MassCleanDiesel project, the move will help to reduce emissions in a sector which, according to Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen, can make a "major" contribution.

Using the filters will cost $16.5 million and about 90 per cent of the bus pollutants will be removed.

"The buses that take our children to school should not foul the air breathed by those same children, and this programme will help put that situation to an end," said Governor Patrick.



Source:

Governor Patrick Launches Innovative Program to Retrofit Diesel School Buses with Equipment to Reduce Air Pollution, 12/06/08
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3pressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Agov3&b=pressrelease&f=080612_school_buses&csid=Agov3