KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The smell and noise of a diesel truck are distinctive and considered pollutants. Efforts underway right now the Missouri departments of Transportation and Natural Resources to make a small dent in that pollution.
“We have 21 dump trucks, 19 loaders, 16 backhoes and 4 forklifts that will undergo upgrades to cutback emissions,” said Kristi Jamison with MoDOT.
Similar upgrades are happening in St. Louis and Springfield for a total of 135 pieces of diesel fueled equipment. Portions of MODOT fleets in the three cities will be retrofitted with new technologies to reduce pollutants that lead to air quality compliance issues.
"Installing emission control and idle reducing devices in our equipment will improve the quality of life, and it is a step in the right direction toward reducing the amount of fuel our fleet consumes. We will put the savings we generate right back into our roads and bridges," Rahn said.
The upgrades will also have an added bonus of increasing the fleet’s fuel efficiency. A $727,277 grant administered by the Department of Natural Resources will fund the upgrades.
“Our agency is pleased to work with MoDOT in this important endeavor. It is our hope this project sets an example nationwide and promotes the development of much larger scale projects in the future," said Department of Natural Resources Director Mark Templeton. "Improving air quality is an important mission of this agency, and we diligently work to achieve air quality standards that are protective of public health and the environment."
Upgrades have already begun in Kansas City and will continue over the next two years. The money will pay for the installation of emission control devices or idle reduction technology. The upgrades reduce emissions in the three cities by about 288 tons per year which is about enough to fill 427 Goodyear blimps.
"As we manage our transportation system, we are very conscientious about how our diesel engines affect air quality," said MoDOT Director Pete Rahn. "That's why MoDOT researches and adopts new technologies that will allow us to better protect the environment and improve the air we breathe."
MoDOT staff helped determine the scope of the project and will provide in-kind services to install the devices on its fleet.
