Fuel Choices and Air Pollution

In “Clearing the Air on Diesel Fuel” (Commentary, March 17), Roger Truitt stated that the operators of Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus view low-sulfur fuel as “a realistic and obtainable means of lowering emissions of its existing fleet.” While it is true that we currently utilize low-sulfur diesel fuel in our existing bus fleet, we also continue to make use of technological advances to ensure that we are operating buses with the lowest level of emissions possible. The Big Blue Bus has purchased 37 low-emission, liquefied-natural-gas-powered, low-floor buses, with an option to purchase an additional 22 buses in future years. Construction is currently underway for an alternative fuel facility that will allow us to use not only LNG vehicles but also compressed-natural-gas and electric-hybrid technologies.

Pending the completion of the fueling facility and the arrival of the LNG buses, our bus fleet will primarily consist of diesel fuel buses. However, we continue to move ahead in our efforts to use the cleanest possible fuel. We currently use zero-emission electric vehicles for our TIDE shuttle in downtown Santa Monica.

JOHN CATOE

Director of Transportation

Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus

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Truitt’s article touting the magnificence of diesel fuel reminds me of the tobacco companies. Diesel exhaust is just as good for you as cigarette smoke. Mr. Truitt, let me ask you something--have you never driven behind a bus or truck? Give it up, it’s all over, it’s just a matter of time.

DONALD B. BROWN

Torrance