How does the OffPeak program help improve air quality around the ports?
• Taking a truck out of gridlocked traffic and allowing it to travel at higher speeds by driving at night reduces air pollution. • According to the air quality model used by the California Air Resources Board to project the state’s emission inventory: • A truck that travels 10 miles at 5 mph produces 90% more pollution than the same truck traveling those same 10 miles at 55 mph. • A truck traveling 5 mph produces 318% more particulate matter than when it travels at 55 mph. • A truck produces a quarter pound of pollution every hour it idles. Thus, every hour that a truck does not sit in a line idling reduces pollution by that amount. Source: California Air Resources Board, EMFAC2002. The pollutants include total organic gases, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide and PM10.
