M7.7 Blog about the agency's role

I chose the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDT) because a large portion of air quality issues have to do with harmful emission from vehicles. Most harmful emissions to the environment come from carbon dioxide and monoxide from older cars. It also comes from the sheer volume of cars on the road producing these gases even if in small amounts. Currently the Transits role in environmental sustainability includes the improvement of air quality.  Public transportation is instrumental in reducing smog in major metropolitan areas. Air quality is often the poorest in urban and suburban areas where traffic congestion is the worst. This has meant that residents of these areas, especially those living in close proximity to major thoroughfares or highways, confront much higher health risks due to poor air quality. The USDT plays an important role in public health because providing alternate mass transportations systems directly reduces the number of automobiles on the road which leads to less air pollutants causing adverse health impacts (COPD, Asthma, heart problems).  Most rail transit vehicles emit little or no pollution, as they are powered by electricity. Other transit vehicles, such as buses, use alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas or fuel cells which produce fewer pollutants. Many other buses, traditionally fueled by diesel, are being replaced with hybrid-diesel or bio-diesel buses. Environmentally, transportation accounts for about 1/3 of all green-house emissions that cause global warming. The department is working on a higher density land project (Transient oriented development- TOD) to reduce the distance people travel, built necessities close together connected by transit systems. This would take the stress off of the expansion and destruction of vital health resources like farms, forest, and waterways.