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For Immediate Release                                     Contact:  Richard Lew

Thursday, March 8, 2007                                   415.749.4900                                          

 

Air District Carl Moyer Program Benefits the City of Richmond

 

On Wednesday, March 14th at 2:00pm, Richmond Pacific Railroad and the Air District will be joined by Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, Richmond City Councilmember Tom Butt and representatives from the offices of Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia, Assemblymember Loni Hancock, State Senator Don Perata and local community-based organizations in a celebration of the retrofit of locomotive #2285 of the Richmond Pacific Railroad.  The event will include a photo opportunity with the retrofitted diesel locomotive and a brief train ride leaving from the Florida Street Rail Yard just east of South 23rd Street in Richmond. 

 

“The retrofit of this locomotive will reduce air pollution in north Richmond,” said Air District Executive Officer Jack Broadbent. “All residents of the Bay Area should breathe clean air and this project is but one of many efforts to improve air quality in the North Richmond area.”

 

It is estimated that the retrofit of locomotive #2285, a switching locomotive, will lead to a life-time reduction of 10 tons of oxides of nitrogen and hundreds of pounds of particulate matter pollution.  “Millions of dollars from the Air District’s Carl Moyer Program reduce air pollution in Bay Area communities by retrofitting vehicles with emission control devices and replacing old heavy-duty engines with new cleaner engines,” said Air District Director of Outreach and Incentives Jack Colbourn. 

 

“This project represents our commitment to a healthy and more prosperous City of Richmond,” said Superintendent of the Richmond Pacific Railroad John Cockle.  “This was a great project for all concerned.  The Air District contributed $148,000 toward this retrofit and we voluntarily contributed $55,000 of our own funds to make this emissions reduction possible.  We’re Richmond’s hometown railroad, not just in name, but in our community relations as well.  Operating a cleaner more fuel efficient railroad is for the benefit of the entire community.”

 

 

 

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