Recently, it was announced that Chicago Transit Authority will receive $2.2 million in funding through the Department of Transportation’s TIGGER II and Clean Fuels grant programs. CTA plans to purchase two new all-electric, battery-powered buses.

I want to applaud CTA for applying for the federal grant money and using it to purchase newer, cleaner, and more efficient buses. Unfortunately, Chicago continues to lag behind other major cities, such as New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Dallas, in cleaning up its stinky bus fleet. As of today, only 40 percent of CTA bus fleet is equipped with modern pollution controls.

This is a threat to our health. Diesel exhaust triggers asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes and even results in premature deaths. According to a report by the Clean Air Task Force, air pollutants inside transit buses can be nearly four times greater than outdoor air, posing serious health risks to riders, drivers, and nearby communities.

Having just some clean buses isn’t enough. Every rider deserves clean air.

CTA needs to use modern pollution controls on ALL its buses to protect the health of ALL Chicagoans.