But powerful companies still have to follow the law. The Encore casino is owned by Wynn Resorts, Ltd., a multi-billion-dollar company that operates glitzy casinos and resorts around the world. On a recent morning at one idling hotspot, people walking by were exposed to exhaust from idling Encore shuttles for more than three hours in a four-hour period. Buses pull up and begin idling just a few minutes after the previous bus has driven away, resulting in an almost continuous stream of exhaust. Encore shuttles idle repeatedly for long periods of time in the same spot, a pattern of harmful behavior with real consequences for air quality in Everett, Chelsea, and Malden. The reality, however, is that Encore’s branded vehicles consistently idle for more than 20-minute stretches near schools, parks, and homes, spewing toxic tailpipe pollution into local neighborhoods. The idea behind the shuttles is a good one: to discourage people from taking their own cars and clogging up nearby neighborhoods with traffic and exhaust fumes. Since the Encore Boston Harbor casino opened its doors in June, residents of Everett, Chelsea, and Malden have grown accustomed to a familiar sight: sleek Encore-branded luxury shuttles driving guests to and from T stations and other pick-up spots. One of Encore's shuttle buses idling near a Silver Line stop in Chelsea.
