UC Davis' student-run transit system, Unitrans, today will receive the city of Davis' 2003 Environmental Recognition Award in the non-profit category.

In their letter to the city, those who nominated Unitrans for the award wrote, "The clean air efforts of Unitrans are exceptional and they accrue to all Davis residents and those in our region. Unitrans is easily one of the cleanest bus fleets in the state -- and this provides a model for others for which we can all be proud." The nominators included Daniel Sperling and Joe Krovoza, the director and development officer of the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies.

Krovoza received the award as an individual in 2001.

The city's award recognized Unitrans for many achievements, including its dedication to clean compressed natural gas (CNG) technology, which is used on 80 percent of Unitrans miles driven; pricing that promotes ridership; leading the way to hydrogen buses; and a hydrogen fueling station under development.

These efforts mean cleaner air; congestion relief; a transportation system for all Davis residents; support for the community bicycle culture; and support for the prohibition on freshmen having cars on campus.

The other recipients of the award this year were Davis residents Ron Unger and Petra Unger in the individual category and Screaming Squeegee Screen Printing & Embroidery in the business category.