I'm really not sure what the point of Mr. Gaarder's posting of an AEI report about the "weekend ozone effect" was in the context of the PRT discussion, but I want to offer a rebuttal to his assertion that there is an inevitable momentum to air quality increases due to EPA regulations.
If anything, the argument made by the AEI report is that there is a complicated synthesis between Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that relates to ground level ozone (smog) formation. The authors' recommendations are consistent with a transit strategy to take cars off the roads, even though you (and I) might disagree about the efficacy of PRT or LRT or any other particular transit strategy. To wit, the AEI report concludes: "A more sensible strategy for both the short- and long-term would be for EPA to seek more rapid reductions in VOCs, and, where possible, delay blanket national NOx reductions for several years. [...] What makes this strategy appealing is that VOC reductions will reduce ozone in most places, especially places where most people live. More rapid near-term VOC reductions are readily available. _Automobiles contribute 50 to 75 percent of all VOC emissions, and the worst five percent of cars accounts for half the automobile contribution_. These cars can be identified on the road with remote sensing and their owners required to repair or voluntarily scrap their cars for a cash incentive. There is no other means to more substantial, more rapid, or less expensive improvements in air quality." Now, I can't necessarily speak to the specified solution (remote sensing? Sounds like something to do with missile defense satellites after we figure out they don't work :), but it seems obvious to me that leaving the City of Minneapolis and the metro area dependent on car transit will definitely keep those 5% of cars on the road. David Strom's recent screeds against mass transit and defense of a "every person should have a car" strategy would definitely put even more cars like this on the roads, and KEEP them there. This report sounds like a great argument for greater investment in public transit, not a reason to reject it. Aaron Klemz Hale __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Small Business $15K Web Design Giveaway http://promotions.yahoo.com/design_giveaway/ REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
