About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 2000)
PHOTOS BY BRAD AARON "If we have a problem, it's probably coming from the cars and trucks we drive," says ACC Mayor Doc Eldridge, "and it just stands to reason that we ought to encouraqe more people to get out of their cars and use alternative modes of transportation." While there are several sources of air pollutants, including power plants and some industries, the EPA estimates that motor vehicles are responsible for up to half of the pollutants that create smog. “In some areas there are more heavy industries or power plants that contribute to air pollution," says ACC Manager Al Crace, "but here, transponation on an individual basis is the first thing we need to attack." More than 50,000 motor vehicles are registered in Athens-Clarke County, plus nearly 17,000 student vehicle? registered for the UGA campus for the fall of 2000. These figures do not include the influx of motor vehicles every day from surrounding cv,jnties. "It's estimated that four to six thousand people a day commute to Athens or to the University of Georgia from the metro Atlanta area," Eldridge says. "If we could qet an effective commuter rail system, it could have a tremendous effect on our air quality. A 30 to 50 percent reduction in the number of cars coming to UGA and going back each day would have a significant impact." Eldridge and Crace both say the ACC transportation plan is being changed tc incorporate more opportunities for c.ternative trans portation. "Already we have begun to do some things, and we are begin ning to see the results emerge," Crace says. "We are beginning to see the development of a network of bike paths. About 15 percent of the traffic within a two-mile radius of downtown and the UGA central campus could be routed to alternative forms of transporta tion—pedestrian, bikes and buses. This is a target area; we can get a network in there." ACC District 9 Commissioner Toni Chasteen says, "The local gov ernment is very committed to alternative means of transportation. The decision was made about 10 years ago that when any new road or major road improvement was done, alternative transportation would be included, and we have not gone back on that commit ment. I think we are doing everything we can within reason, and everything economically possible, to provide alternative transporta tion." Local officials point to the bike lanes on Baxter Street, Epps Bridge Road and College Station Road, as well as to the North Oconee River Greenway, as examples of the government's commit ment. But Jason Henderson, Chair of BikeAthens, says these bike lanes are fragmented and unsafe. "You will never see increases in bike usage under current conditions, because bikers are forcibly spilled into dangerous roads," he says. "For example, on Epps Bridge and Baxter, it's nowhere to nowhere." The Greenway. Henderson says, "is just a glorified sidewalk. Bike lanes need to be on the main streets that connect homes to stores and work." "What's just as important is calming the car," adds Henderson. "Speeds need to be reduced, and speed bumps and traffic circles deployed throughout the county." Eldridge says he understands the concerns. "The way it is now is not real safe," he says. "The problem we've got is that we just don't have as much room between the curbs on our streets a. they do in some other communities, so it's hard to get a dedicated bike lane in there." "But somewhere there is an answer," he insists. "It can be done in a reasonable way and economically. It won't happen overnight, but we're making progress." Crace, too, says he is aware that advocates don’t feel the gov ernment is moving fast enough, but says, "We will do it—because we have to. We simply cannot pave enough roads to meet future demand. We have comp to the point where we have to do things dif ferently." Eldridge says that one key to reducing automobile traffic in Athens will be cooperation between the community and the univer sity. "Their land use plan and ours will dovetail nicely," he says. "They are planning for more pedestrian and bike-friendly approaches and some other policies like remote Darking lots and student housing closer to campus." Crace also points to the possible use of alternative fuels for gov ernment vehicles. "We are looking now at the question of whether we should continue using petroleum based fuels [for our transporta tion fleet], or if we could go to natural gas. The decision about this needs to be mad' 4 in the next 12 to 24 months, and it could turn over pretty quickly." GREENBELT HELPS? Many studies have shown that green space, especially trees, helps to protect air quality by filtering out some pollutants and by reducing the development of urban "heat islands." The greenbelt that remains around Athens-Clarke County today might make a substantial contribution to maintaining air quality here. But its future is in serious question, as ACC Commissioners debate changes that would allow more intensive development. Commissioner Chasteen says air quality is being considered in the decision about the greenbelt, "directly or indirectly." "We want to reduce sprawl," he says, "and one of the goals of the land use plan is to accommodate additional population closer in so that there's less of a need for traffic." Mayor Eldridge says, "I think this is one of the most critical deci sions we will make as elected offi cials." He says the Commissioners are struggling with the problem of how to protect green space and control growth and development, and at the same time give some protection to individual property rights. Larry Dendy, former chair of the local chapter of the Georgia Conservancy and current president of Sandy Creek Nature Center, Inc., says the Commission's decision on the greenbelt will be "extremely critical." "I'm afraid we're not looking 10 or 20 years ahead," Dendy says. "Those who are pushing for higher densities and more development in these areas are thinking in a very narrow and short-term way, and not looking at the long-term consequences. I think the people 20 or 25 years from now who might be the victims of detrimental growth will look back in scorn and displeasure if our decisions are to develop so intensively that we lose our quality of life." A CRITICAL TIME Local officials say the government should not wait to take steps to protect air quality here. "We will not be one of those places where we only do what we should do after the regulatory agency tells us we have to," Crace says. "We need to be good stewards now." Eldridge says the local community will need help. "I would like to think that if the community is starting to approach a gray area in our air quality, the state and federal agencies would be forthcoming with information and would help start a dialogue on what we can do to improve our situation," he says. "The worst thing in the world is to get hit by a surprise, so if it's beginning to develop, we can deal with it much better if we have the information." And Chasteen agrees: "If we are having anything show up on the radar screen now, certainly if we are over in some areas, whether it's ozone or whatever, then I think it would be a good idea to continue the monitoring. "But we know the things that cause air pollution," he continues, "ideally, we should keep from developing a problem to begin with, rather than having to close the barn door after the mule is out." None of the sources contacted for this article were willing to draw conclusions about the quality of Athens' air at this time. All say that more information is needed. If the EPA continues to mon itor Athens' air for ozone next year and EPD also continues its moni toring for other pollutants, more information will gradually become available—and the picture will become, perhaps ironically, more clear. Several local officials point out that it takes time to make changes, especially in transportation infrastructure and habits. But in the meantime, traffic in Athens almost certainly will continue to grow. And other changes, such as the loss of trees and green space to urban and suburban development, can take place very rapidly. As Eldridge points out, "it's a struggle" to make the right decisions and find the best solutions. But the next few months could be 3 critical time. The question is: Will the community really be willing to do what is necessary to protect Athens' air—before it becomes a serious problem? Sigrid Sandsrs SEPTEMBER 13, VIDEO LIBRARY $ 1°° Rentals! 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