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Air Quality Advisory Continues = Free Bus Rides

By 250 News

Tuesday, April 07, 2009 05:05 PM

Prince George, B.C.- The Air Quality Advisory continues in Prince George.
Based on the air quality data, the high levels are mainly due to road dust with some contribution for combustion emissions (smoke) this morning. The 24 hour PM10 rolling average was 52 µg/m3 at the Plaza 400 downtown at 4:00 pm, 38 µg/m3 at BCR and 21 µg/m3 at College Heights. The 24 hour PM2.5 rolling average was 11 µg/m3 at the Plaza 400 downtown site and 5 µg/m3 at College Heights. This Air Quality Advisory is expected to be in effect until further notice, with an update to be provided tomorrow morning at 9:30 am.
 
The advisory means Prince George transit will be offering free bus rides.
 

The free rides will start at 11:59 p.m. tonight until 11:59 p.m. of the day the advisory ends. Beginning April 8 all transit buses will switch their digital signs to display

“Free Fare for Clean Air” and will cover the fare boxes so passengers will not be able to deposit money.

 
 

“Free transit on air advisory days promotes clean air and encourages sustainable forms of transportation” said Mayor Dan Rogers. “The City is a leader in initiatives like Free Fare for Clean Air, promoting Prince George as a clean and healthy city.”

 


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Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 05:05 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Comment Posted by: gus on April 7 2009 5:53 PM
"The free rides will start at 11:59 p.m."

I did not realize buses ran that late in PG.
Comment Posted by: lunarguy on April 7 2009 7:21 PM
Too bad PG was innovative in dealing with the root cause of the issue ! Just like so many things, the downtown homeless problem, etc. Stop masking the situation and deal with the root cause.
Comment Posted by: Lamb on April 7 2009 7:44 PM
Good initiative
With the opening of the Cameron Street Bridge can you imagine the unhealthy air folks will be breathing along Carney Street, Nechako Subdivision and Fifth Avenue as the big trucks lumber through? Not a healthy way to live for well meaning tax paying folks not to mention the kids who attend the Traditional School. .
Comment Posted by: Palopu on April 7 2009 9:25 PM
Lamb. Whaat are you talking about.?? Trucks are presently routed down 5th Avenue and Carney St. BECAUSE the Cameron St. Bridge is closed. The unhealthy air has already been breathed.

Once the bridge opens, any truck from the North side of the river will use the Cameron St. Bridge to access River Road, or 1st Avenue.

Any trucks coming from Highway 16 West will continue to use Queensway to 1st Avenue to River Road, or East on Highwy 16.

Trucks from 97 South for the North or the Pulp Mills will continue to use the John Hart Bridge.

Trucks from Highway 16 West and 97 South that want to access 1st Avenue or River road from the West will continue to use the Bypass, and 5th Avenue and Carney the same as at present.

The end result will be much less traffic on Carney St. and 5th Avenue.
Comment Posted by: MrGee on April 7 2009 10:09 PM
Can anyone tell me why the Air Quality Index has not been posted for over 2 weeks?
Comment Posted by: observer on April 8 2009 9:05 AM
Would be interesting to know just how many people are actually leaving their vehicles at home today and taking the bus.
Am phoning City Hall and asking if the mayor, council and employees did.
Judging by the number of cars I saw while out walking my dog this morning there seemed to be about the usual volume on the road. Also a bus passed us and looked quite empty.
At College Heights elementary school there were also the usual number of mums in their SUV's dropping children off, the same as every week morning.
Also will try Gordon Hoekstra at the Citizen and see if he has any follow-up on this.