Mass. environmental group sues Greyhound over idling buses at South Station

A Massachusetts environmental group wants Greyhound bus drivers to cut the engine while they wait for passengers in Boston.

The Conservation Law Foundation sued the transportation company in federal court on Tuesday, saying it's violating the Clean Air Act by allowing their coaches to idle and belch noxious gases into the air, creating pollution that contributes to climate change and hurting the health of the community.

"Idling buses produce harmful fumes that are linked to asthma, lung cancer, emphysema, and heart disease," said Clare Soria, associate attorney at the Conservation Law Foundation. "So, this case is really to address the amount of air pollution that Bostonians and people in Southie and using South Station are exposed to every day."

The foundation's complaint alleges they found more than 60 instances of Greyhound buses idling "extensively" while parked at South Station and its bus lot in South Boston.

"We even observed one bus running for two hours without moving," Soria said.

A spokesperson for Greyhound said the company does not comment on pending litigation.

The foundation said it has filed nine lawsuits since 2019 over bus idling in Massachusetts and Connecticut.