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Residents urge environmental modeling and fuel-plan before siting proposed school-bus depot
Summary
Residents at the April 1 New Albany City Council meeting urged the city and school district to commission local environmental dispersion modeling and plan for alternative-fuel infrastructure before approving a proposed joint school-bus and fire facility, citing concerns about diesel emissions, proximity to neighborhoods and long-term adaptability of the facility.
Martin Combs, a New Albany resident, told the council the proposed bus-and-fire facility would shrink the district's usable bus parking compared with the current site and change the gateway character of New Albany, saying the plan "is actually gonna have less usable space than the current location." He said his reconnaissance of satellite imagery suggested the existing site has about 80 bus parking spaces while the proposed design appears to show roughly 69, and he urged council to plan for alternative fuels and fueling infrastructure rather than building a long-term facility that cannot be adapted.
Dr. Sandra Solano, a physician specializing in preventive medicine and public health, told the council that even emissions meeting regulatory limits can pose health risks for vulnerable populations and urged independent, local modeling of pollutant dispersion. "These emissions are dangerous," she said, arguing that tightening standards, rebate programs and real-world studies show residual harm and that New Albany should assess how many residents would be exposed to incremental increases in fine particulate matter and ozone. Dr. Solano referenced the EPA's Clean School Bus rebate program and California Air Resources Board standards as part of the national context and invited the city to partner with Ohio State University students and faculty to perform a community-specific risk assessment.
Council members asked follow-up questions about safe setback distances, background air quality, cumulative exposures from nearby roadways, and whether buses are typically left idling near schools. Residents in the audience clarified local practices: one speaker said buses are typically turned off when parked in front of the school, while commenters noted idling still occurs at times and that exposure is cumulative. Council members and staff acknowledged that locating a bus facility outside the district could require significant land purchase and that mitigation and precise modeling would be necessary to assess risk.
The council did not take formal action on the depot at the April 1 meeting; several ordinances and resolutions related to land use and infrastructure were set for further hearings and votes in coming meetings. The public comment session concluded with council thanking speakers for information they had already provided by email and indicating staff would continue to compile data for future consideration.
