Arlington Heights launches anti-idling campaign

Environmental activists want to see less cars idling around the village – and the Arlington Heights Village Board agrees.

The village will launch an awareness campaign in the coming months to remind drivers to turn their cars off while preparing to pick up their kids outside school or waiting for a passenger to arrive at the Metra station.

The anti-idling or idle-free campaign will target school, train stations and parks, where idling tends to be the norm, officials said.

Mayor Arlene Mulder said she has seen cars idling for more than 30 minutes outside schools. Signs could be installed at those locations, as long as the operating agencies agree and funding is available.

“The signage would simply serve as more of a nudge,” Mulder said.

Trustee Michael Sidor, who has been a vocal supporter of the concept particularly as the Environmental Commission began discussing it last year, said he would like the campaign to be as reasonable and friendly as possible.

“We’re not going to enforce it,” Sidor said. “It’s just an educational campaign and a little bit of a movement.”

The campaign will also be anchored by brochures and web-based informational materials.

Found Here: http://triblocal.com/arlington-heights/2012/02/22/arlington-heights-launches-anti-idling-campaign/