Environmental Justice and Bus Depots

"Bus depots are one of many environmental culprits, along with lead and sewage treatment facilities, that contribute to health problems in the area....Beyond the health hazards, the presence of bus depots degrades everyday life in smaller ways. Community members voice concern about the constant noise and parking problems....In addition to more equitable distribution of the depots, activists are urging the use of cleaner fuels. This goal has met with more success....For now, the depots seem unlikely to close, and activists are focusing on more achievable goals. They want anti-idling laws--which prohibit buses from standing with their engines running on the street--to be enforced. They want ventilation systems installed at the bus depots. They want to establish an advisory board made up of community leaders to communicate directly with the MTA, which residents have found reluctant to notify, let alone consult, them about decisions."