SWUTC Research Project Description
Title of Project: Use of School Bus Idle Reduction Cost Savings as Incentive to Increase Service
Project Number: 476660-00006
Principal Investigator:
Michelle Hoelscher
(979) 847-8724
P.I. Affiliation: Texas A&M University
Project Monitor:
Janie Temple
Texas Department of Transportation
(512) 486-5153
Project Status: Active
Date Started: 9/1/07
Estimation Completion Date: 8/31/08
Estimated Cost - Current Fiscal: $51,000
Estimated Cost - Total Planned: $51,000
Project Summary:
Project Abstract:
School districts in Texas and many other states have, in recent years, increased the “walk zones” surrounding schools to a two-mile perimeter. Inside this perimeter, either no school bus service is offered, or service is offered only with a fee to parents. Many families living in these neighborhoods opt to drive their children to school, resulting in daily traffic congestion in front of schools (and often spilling onto adjacent streets). The increased vehicle traffic surrounding school facilities presents safety concerns, increases congestion and emissions caused by vehicle idling, and can discourage walking and bicycling even for children living closer to the school. This project will measure the cost and benefits of implementing a school bus idle reduction program as a means to offset the cost of increased bus service. Increased bus service would provide a less congested school zone thus providing a safer environment for walkers and bike riders living less than one mile from school.
Project Objectives:
This project will measure the cost and benefits of implementing a school bus idle reduction program as a means to offset the cost of increased bus service.
Task Descriptions:
Task 1: Literature review & best-practices resource summary
Resource materials, data, and standards will be utilized from the National Center for Safe Routes to School, the EPA Clean School Bus USA, Texas Safe Routes to School programs and other relevant sources. Suggested tools, materials and outreach objectives will be identified to assist local districts to increase bus rider-ship and program awareness where needed.
Task 2: Inventory of Current Busing Practices
During this time one the following districts will chosen for this study: Cypress Fairbanks, College Station or Bryan independent school district. One elementary school or an intermediate/middle school will be selected as a case study. An inventory of current local practices with regard to busing routes and walk zones will be obtained. Current awareness of the benefits of idle reduction will serve as a baseline from which to build future projects or possible state-wide implementation program.
Task 3: Survey
Survey of parents and/or students (bus riders, car riders and walkers) to understand mode choice, distance of travel, routes, wait times, idling, knowledge of bus/walk zones, and school zone safety. Also, develop an understanding of the likelihood of mode changes should the bus services be expanded to also cover the area between one and two miles from the school. This exercise will be performed by using existing information provided by the school district and supplemented by interviews.
Task 4: School Zone Data Collection & Air Quality Modeling
Collect school bus and passenger car idling time data, before and after school for three days in May. Data collected during May will include mode choice, vehicle age and classification. Texas A&M Students will be utilized to collect data. The data will be used to develop an air quality analysis model. This model will be used to calculate existing emissions caused by students commuting to school. Current idling and drive cycle patterns as well as emission rates under these conditions will be considered in the development of this model.
Task 5: Modeling & Cost Benefits Analysis
Use the analysis model and calculate the fuel savings and air quality improvements if services is expanded to inner zone and an idle reduction program is instituted. The immediate school zone (2 miles perimeter) will serve as the emission baseline target zone. The fuel savings and emissions savings will be quantified in monetary terms to assess a cost benefit ratio. Sensitivity analyses will also be performed to assess the effect of factors such as instituting different idle reduction policies.
Task 6: Final Report
The results of this research can be used by TxDOT, school districts, and local communities to help in making decisions about which students/neighborhoods should implement idle reduction programs. The report prepared as part of this project will be distributed by request to school districts and communities in Texas. In addition, papers and presentations will be prepared for submission to Transportation Research Board (TRB), Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), Texas Education Agency (TEA), school administrators and other appropriate groups. In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and Blue Skyways Collaborative will find the information produced in this study very useful and will serve as resources and information channels.
Index Terms:
School Zone, Air Quality, Safety, Idle Reduction