MCKINNEY, TEXAS — Collin County Commissioners are expected to adopt a resolution calling for the eventual replacement of its fleet with cleaner vehicles that emit fewer nitrogen oxides, according to the McKinney Courier-Gazette. The Regional Transportation Council of the North Texas Council of Governments has asked commissioners to consider the policy because The Dallas-Fort-Worth area is a federally designated non-attainment area. The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 require that, in air quality non-attainment areas, transportation plans and improvement programs conform to a regional air quality plan. The resolution calls for the following:

  • When replacing an old vehicle or expanding the fleet, Collin County will replace 2004 vehicles with the newest model year or engine standard.
  • Vehicles replacing 2003-model years or older must show at least a 25 percent reduction in ni-trogen oxides emissions rate compared to the vehicle being replaced.
  • The county also may retrofit fleet vehicles with aftermarket technologies or conversions that comply with Environmental Protection Agency and/or CARB verified or certified technology.

    The new policy also changes the way employees operate fleet vehicles. Collin County employees who use county vehicles will be trained to follow the following rules: Idling is allowed only for safety, emergency response, vehicle maintenance, equipment activity, warm-up/operations in cold temperature, and manufacturer recommended minimum idle warm-up times, according to the McKinney Courier-Gazette report. If the county does not adopt or comply with the Clean Vehicle program, it may not be eligible for RTC clean vehicle funding or other funding actions.

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