by Susan Jarvis
May 22, 2006

As energy and gas prices continue to rise and air quality continues to deteriorate, mayors are looking at alternatives in both fuels and models for their city fleets and are exploring the role of mass transit and energy policy to encourage efficiency.

Howard J. Henneman, Commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Fleet Management, accepted Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s challenge to make Chicago the nation’s greenest city. The Department of Fleet Management is comprised of more than 11,000 vehicles, 820 employees and 48 departments. Eleven million gallons of fuel, from 12 fuel sites are dispensed annually. The city has “green fuel sites” to minimize environmental impact, with 30 percent green solar power, and green fuels, including E-85 (an ethanol blended fuel) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). The city also has 192 E-85 light duty vehicles, 78 CNG powered vehicles, 58 hybrid sedans and 77 hybrid SUV’s. The city’s fleet has also been modified with either particulate filters, leading up to a 98 percent reduction in emissions or oxicats, securing a 60 percent reduction in emissions. The city has also passed an anti-idling policy and has set aggressive goals for the future, including increasing the hybrid fleet by 10 percent annually, expanding the retrofit program and the availability of E-85 fuel and expanding the shop recycling program. The city is also planning on developing and deploying the world’s first hybrid refuse truck and the world’s first ethanol to hydrogen fueling station.

Austin Mayor Will Wynn provided participants with a look at Austin’s Plug-In Partners Campaign, which addresses three long-term energy problem, economics, environmental, and national security, through exploring and advocating alternatives to petroleum. The Plug-In Hybrid has a large, on board battery charger, which, on an overnight charge, provides energy for 60-80 miles- enough for most commuters weekly drives. The purpose of Plug-In Partners is to demonstrate there is a market for flexible fuel plug in hybrid vehicles, and create a demand for mass production of hybrid vehicles. Participants in the Plug In Partners provide “soft” fleet orders, endorsements, rebates, petitions, and letters. So far, 23 cities have signed on to the campaign, which began in January 2006.

Carmel (IN) is exploring and implementing Hydrogen Vehicles as an answer to the energy crisis. Hydrogen is a sustainable fuel that can be produced from water using local renewable energy sources with no CO2 waste. The technology is available with Internal Combustion Engines. Mayor James Brainard also discussed traffic roundabouts as a safety, congestion, and environmental solution. After identifying the differences between a traffic circle and a roundabout (available on-line at www.usmayors.org), Brainard cited safety statistics touting fewer accidents at roundabouts as well as the construction and electricity cost savings. Roundabouts also provide environmental benefits, as there are fewer emissions as cars continue to travel through intersections.

Every city, Charlotte Mayor Patrick McCrory said, has a long-term transportation plan. Charlotte sold their public transportation plan as an investment in the future of the city. The business community was the first to sign on, as they began to understand the importance of getting their workers to and from work quickly. Manufacturing plants, for example, were interested in a more reliable transportation system for its third shift workers. The plan was touted as giving commuters a transportation choice, so they could commute via car, bus, bike, sidewalks and light rail. McCrory cautioned not to overstate the environmental impacts, as that is hard to quantify. Finally, the city convinced the development community that money could be made along the new transportation lines.

McCrory also gave some advice about circumventing roadblocks. First, transportation isn’t fair. You must put it where it will work. Secondly, don’t discuss density; show pictures and illustrations of the product. “Talk about design,” said McCrory. Other obstacles include time, cost and state legislatures. “Remind your representatives they need roads too,” concluded the mayor.

“Mayors are leading the way in mass transit,” began William Millar, President of the American Public Transit Association. People “get” that we need mass transit and transportation alternatives, but will they vote for it? Millar asked the attendees. Yes, they will, he concluded, as 84 percent of transportation referendums have passed over the last few years. Echoing McCrory’s presentation, the issue is choice. In addition to the economic and environmental benefits of mass transit, Millar touted the lifestyle benefits including increased walking. “Using mass transit is the easiest thing for commuters to do to beat the high cost of gas,” he concluded.

Attendees also heard from Paolo Timoni, President and CEO of Piaggio Group Americas, about the rapidly growing market for scooters. He encouraged mayors to consider this use of transit when discussing any transportation plan.

For more information about the speakers and presentations, log on to usmayors.org.