01/22/1973 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilman Williams wondered if including Springfield in the plan had been con- sidered to enable restriction of traffic on an area-wide system. Vern Adkinson, air quality director, said the original plan was on a county-wide basis. However, when consideration was given to mass population centers in which greater concentra- tion of traffic is located, it was deemed advisable to exclude the outlying areas "of the county. He said Springfield was excluded, although they have agreed to (future participation. . ~' iPublic Works Director in answer to Councilman Keller outlined arterial boundaries jof the Stage 2 and 3 areas. He said there is possibility of changing these boundaries. With the present monitoring stations there is no way of determining a definite line ,between different concentrations of carbon monoxide. The boundaries chosen are J those which are logical transportation corridors. I [Councilman Williams commented that it would seem appropriate to approve the pro- posed plan as shown on the map, staff to bring back a document with corresponding :text for adoption. He said he felt any situation requiring implementation of Stage 3 'would probably also stop industry, and force people to drive farther out thereby : continually increasing the problem. ~Mrii Williams moved seconded by Mrs. Beal to tentati vely adopt the plan as indicated on th~map presented and request staff to rewrite the text for consideration at the January 22 Council meeting. Comm ,'1/10/73 : Ap;prove IIn making the motion Mr. Williams asked that the Transportation Planning Cornrndttee of LCOG co-operate with the city of Springfield in attempting to develop a plan for the entire metropolitan area in the event of major carbon monoxide concentration, . (Air Quality Director said this plan is part of a State plan which addresses itself :to all factors of air pollution, including industries. A monitoring station will I be installed in Springfield in the next year which will allow for more input into : the overall program. 'Councilman Murray expressed concern about the use of Jefferson/Washington routes in' the event of severe air pollution situations. He said it would only worsen things I for that residential neighborhood in which traffic is already a problem. Public works'Directorreplied that any arterial would create the same problem in other residential areas. In preparing the boundaries, he said, there was discussion 'even of deleting Stage 2 and going directly to Stage 3; it is still not known at 'what point of concentration Stage 3 will be implemented. 'Councilwoman Beal commented that the important thing is having the boundaries set 'up to at least have some basis on which to warn the public of an emergency si tua- tion. Mayor Anderson noted that before any vehicular movement is restricted, there would be Stage 1 alert warning. Implementation of Stage 2 without prior alert warn- ing, he felt, would create problems. Councilman Wood wondered whether it would curtail emissions more effectively to implement Stage 3 immediately following Stage I in view of the small area covered by Stage 2. Assistant Manager said that until the monitoring equipment becomes more sophisticated there is no absolute solution. - Councilman Keller asked if more problems would be created, in review of the total ,plan, by using the slower streets as boundaries rather than arterials. Public :Works Director said traffic can be moved out much faster on arterials. He re- emphasized that it is not known at what point Stage 3 would be implemented. In answer to Mrs. Campbell's inquiry about State legislation, Mrs. Beal said the Governor has authority to stop traffic in extreme emergencies. I I I i IA vote was taken on the md;ion as stated. Motion carried, Mr. Murray voting no. C0unci:bnan.1'furvay--. o0;9e.cte.d' tGl'"t~: plar,i:al!S:" cu.iTent1:r: QJ:'awn. ,.lIe.. d.tdn' t ,feel. St.age 2 would effecti:velY-HcurJ5 autotrafHc.H1S"particular concern with Stage 2 was that it seems to funnel traf'ficlTlore excesSi:vely;, onto Streets like Washington and Jefferson where there is tlie heaviest concentration of'senior citizens in the colrrrnunity and who are the people most apt to be bothered during periods of severe concentration of carbon monoxide emissions. He felt there should be alternatives. Councilman Wood concurred. Manager said the general point of view. is that implementation of either Stage 2 or 3 would be entirely voluntary be- cause the City does not have the manpower to barricade and prohibit people from driving in those areas. In any emergency requiring implementation of those two stages, City forces will be busy with things other than traffic. He said the philosophy behind the two-stage proposal is based on information which the Lane Regional Air Pollution staff gave indicating they anticipated greatest concern in the central business district and the intent was to counter- act any emissions concentration by prohibiting the inner belt to vehicular traffic. It is not anticipated in the foreseeable future that concentration will reach Stage 1, the warning stage. Tests at this time do not indicate that Stages 2 and 3 will ever be used. ,Staff has . 19 1/22/73 - 10