The City of North Richland Hills recognizes that excessive ozone and air pollution is a threat to our public health and our economy. That is why the City is working with the North Central Texas Council of Government and the North Texas Clean Air Coalition to improve air quality in North Texas.
Because every car or truck we drive increases ozone levels, the City of North Richland Hills continuously looks for ways to decrease vehicle emissions. When older vehicles in the City's fleet are replaced, they are replaced with more fuel efficient and lower emission models. The City has also adopted a vehicle and equipment engine idling policy. The policy directs employees who drive City vehicles and equipment to turn off the engine immediately upon reaching their destination (with some exceptions for public safety vehicles.) The goal is to reduce operating costs, fuel consumption and emissions due to unnecessary idling.
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Current Ozone Level
North Richland Hills has 14 Air Pollution Alert signs that are strategically placed around the City to notify citizens of an Air Pollution Watch. Click here to learn more about the Air Pollution Watch system, or to sign up for e-mail notifications of high ozone levels occurring in the DFW region.
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The City of North Richland Hills also supports the Southwest-to-Northeast Rail Corridor project, which will bring commuter rail to North Richland Hills and Northeast Tarrant County. To learn more about this project, visit www.sw2nerail.com.
The City encourages employees and residents to take the following steps to help improve our region's air quality:
Drive Less
Whenever possible, park your car and walk or ride a bike instead. Walking and cycling is not only good for the environment, it is also good for your health. North Richland Hills has a citywide system of multipurpose trails and bicycle routes. Click here to learn more about the City's trail system.
Share a Ride
Get information about carpool, vanpool and mass transit options online:
The T
Trinity Railway Express (TRE)
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)
Keep Your Vehicle Well-Maintained
The emissions from one poorly maintained vehicle can equal those from 25 properly functioning vehicles! Listed below are six suggestions for vehicle maintenance.
- Perform maintenance according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Replace oil and filters at recommended times, using an energy-saving grade of motor oil (labeled EC or Energy Conserving.)
- Don't tamper with your vehicle's emission controls and be sure to get your vehicle inspected annually. It is illegal to tamper with emission-control devices. An emission check can alert you to an emissions problem.
- Pay attention to a loss in fuel economy. This usually signals an increase in emissions.
- Watch for signals from your vehicle's tailpipe that your car or truck may be running inefficiently. Black smoke means there is too much gas in the air-fuel mixture and the fuel injection system should be checked. Blue smoke means the engine is burning oil and too many hydrocarbons are being released.
- Check any fluid leaks from your air conditioner immediately. Leaking chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) pose a threat to stratospheric ozone. Federal law requires that your mechanic recycle CFCs removed from the air conditioner during repairs.
- Pay attention to dashboard lights that warn of engine problems. Newer vehicles are equipped with onboard diagnostic equipment. Under-the-hood computers with dashboard displays alert drivers of malfunctioning emission control equipment.
Report Smoking Vehicles
You can help the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality get the word out to owners of smoking vehicles. The next time you see a car, truck or bus with dirty smoke coming from it exhaust for roe than 10 consecutive seconds, get the license number and call 1-800-453-SMOG. You can also report smoking vehicles online by clicking here. When you call, you will be asked to provide the license plate number, the date, the time and the location where you saw the smoking vehicle. You do not have to give your name, and the call is free. The TCEQ will then notify the owner that his or her car may be contributing to air pollution by smoking excessively and providing vehicle owners with information about how to improve their vehicle's performance.
Also Consider These Pollution-Reducing Tips
- Combine trips to minimize cold starts. Most vehicle emissions occur when the engine and catalytic converter are cold.
- Drive at fuel-saving, moderate speeds. Jack-rabbit acceleration uses more fuel than your engine can efficiently burn.
- Avoid excessive idling. Drive during off-peak hours to avoid congested traffic. Avoid highway construction projects and lines at drive-through windows.
- Refuel your vehicle carefully and in the evening when it's cooler. Avoid spilling gasoline. Don't top off the tank and check to make sure your gas cap seals properly.
- Don't mow your lawn or use gas-powered lawn equipment in the morning on Air Pollution Watch days. Lawn-care machines produce more pollution than you might think - one hour of operation equals about 50 miles of car driving. Consider electric or hand-powered models.
- Buy environmentally friendly cleaners; avoid using aerosol products and select water-based paint.
Source: North Texas Clean Air Coalition
Air Quality Links
North Texas Clean Air Coalition
Drive Clean Across Texas
North Central Texas Council of Governments
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Environmental Protection Agency
Transportation Links
The T
Trinity Railway Express (TRE)
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)
Southwest-to-Northeast Rail Corridor
Try Parking It
DFW Bike Web
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