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The Iowa Transportation Commission has granted more than $5 million to cities and organizations throughout the state to help improve air quality.

“The (federal) funds are granted to help improve the air quality in Iowa,” said Stuart Anderson, director of Iowa Department of Transportation’s office of systems planning. “The transportation projects help reduce vehicle emissions … and greenhouse gas emissions.”

The IDOT’s Transportation Commission approved Iowa’s Clean Air Attainment Program funding recommendations totaling $5.05 million to 14 projects at its meeting on Feb. 12. Windsor Heights received the largest grant, nearly $1.4 million, for improvements to the Hickman Road corridor.

Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority received $160,000 to help in purchasing an electric-hybrid bus. When purchased, it will be “the first in the state of Iowa,” said Brian Litchfield, chief development officer for DART.

Though proven successful in cities such as Seattle and New York, Litchfield said the technology needs to be tested here to see how it will operate in the Iowa climate and provide service on a daily basis, while saving on fuel and other costs.

DART has yet to purchase electric-hybrid buses because each vehicle costs $240,000 more than a standard diesel bus. The bus will begin operating in late 2008 or 2009, after the funding comes through and the bus is received from the manufacturer. Litchfield said DART has also applied for funds through the Iowa Power Fund for additional buses.

The projects are estimated to reduce total emissions by 334 tons per year and vehicle miles traveled by 8.7 million miles per year, Anderson said. The projects can include public transportation improvements, rail and transit systems to reduce single-occupancy vehicles and road improvements, such as adding left-turn lanes so vehicles are idling at intersections for a shorter amount of time.