The NYC Department of Environmental Protection is poised to exempt Academy buses from the NYC Idling laws that require a vehicle to limit its idling to no more than three minutes.
Our District CD4 has their worst air quality in New York City. Please help us oppose this exemption by testifying by mail or on line via online form or at the virtual public hearing at 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 29.: .PLEASE testify
This law has long been on the books but started to get enforced when citizens were allowed to report infractions. This system has been very effective and now Academy accumulated over $ 500,000 in fines. THAT IS A LOT of IDLING.
Indeed the arguments presented by Academy do not pass muster : cannot install a turn off, Cannot install an annex engine, cannot train its drivers … all solutions that other companies have success fully adopted.
This is not the first time that Academy demonstrates that it is a rogue operator: they were recently condemned to pay a fine of 20.5 millions to New Jersey transit for leaving commuters on the side of the road and covering it up in their reports.
The residents of New york City should not have to bear the brunt of Accademy’s financial travails. Nor should we risk inflicting a fatal blow to the Idling law for them.