Santa Barbara County Air Quality News • Issue 95 • Summer 2008 On the Air Taking a Vacation from the Gas Pump s gas prices rose in the past compared with May of 2007, a Coast Starlight (+ 28 percent), Ayear, more Americans took 3.7 percent drop. Caltrans the San Joaquins (+ 32 percent) a vacation from the gas pump, reported a 5 percent drop and the Pacific Surfliner driving fewer miles, and making in vehicle miles traveled in (+ 12 percent). Brian Hart, more car-free transportation California in June 2008 Director of Field Marketing-West choices. Cars and trucks are a as compared with June for Amtrak, noted that ridership major source of smog-forming of 2007 (see graph page on the Surfliner has been pollution, and of greenhouse gases two). The Santa Barbara increasing significantly every year that contribute to global climate County Association of for the last several years, making change; reduced vehicle miles and Governments reported a 12 percent increase for this past increased alternate-transportation that average weekday fiscal year even more impressive. miles help efforts for cleaner air traffic volumes decreased He remarked, “People are and a healthier planet. at the Santa Barbara discovering–or rediscovering–the County-Ventura pleasures of train travel. They’re National, state and local numbers County line for the forming new transportation reflected the trend towards first few months of habits.” Amtrak is a partner in the fewer car trips and more bus, 2008 as compared District’s Santa Barbara Car Free train, and bike trips. The U.S. with 2007 and 2006. Program, and a special discount Department of Transportation on the Pacific Surfliner and announced in August that since Ridership on Amtrak San Joaquins services is offered last November, Americans have trains was up 14 percent through the Car Free program’s driven 53.2 billion miles less than overall for Fiscal Year In June, the District’s Santa Barbara Car Free website. Project launched a “Take a Vacation from the Gas they did over the same period (FY) 2007-2008 compared Pump” promotion to encourage visitors to arrive in a year earlier. According to the to FY 2006-2007. Ridership the area car free. The Project, initiated and led by Commuter bus services in the the District, is a cooperative partnership of more Federal Highway Administration, increases were high for the than 100 businesses, agencies, organizations and county saw more riders during Americans drove nearly 10 billion three trains that stop in individuals — all encouraging car free travel to this period as well. In the first and around Santa Barbara for cleaner air and a healthier planet. fewer miles in May 2008 Santa Barbara County: the (continued on page two) Gap and Basin Fires Affect County’s Air Inside... moke and ash from two Santa Maria and Santa Barbara be stirred back up into the air, New MarBorg Swildfires affected the monitoring stations in late June. causing localized areas of poor CNG Truck county’s air in June and July, and air quality. The District received the District issued several air During the Gap Fire, air quality calls from county residents Permit Updates quality advisories with the County was poor on several days due complaining about dust and ash Public Health Department urging to smoke and ash. While the in the air caused by use of leaf Green Business Program residents to stay indoors and Goleta area was the most directly blowers by gardening services. avoid outdoor exercise when air impacted, other areas of Southern New Division quality was poor. Smoke and ash Santa Barbara County were Last year, several weeks after Manager from the Basin Complex Fire in also affected, as were areas in the Zaca Fire was out, high Monterey County were impacting the Santa Ynez Valley and in winds brought dust and ash into New Staff air quality in the county even Northern Santa Barbara County. Southern Santa Barbara County, before the Gap Fire started July 1, Even after the most critical period, resulting in extremely poor air CEQA and Climate as shown by higher readings ash that had been deposited quality on days in October and Change for particle pollution at the on the ground continued to (continued on page two) Vacation from the Gas Pump (cont’d) three months of 2008, ridership FY 2007-2008 ridership, compared 2006 California Highway Travel 2007 on the Coastal Express from with the previous fiscal year. 2008 Ventura to Santa Barbara was up 20 percent over the same period The Santa Barbara Metropolitan 5 4 in 2007, and ridership on the Transit District (MTD) reported 3 Clean Air Express from Santa for the first time ever, more Maria and Lompoc to Santa than 8 million passengers rod e 2 Barbara was up 19 percent for MTD in a single fiscal year, 1 June of 2008 compared with FY 2007-2008, a 5 percent 0 June of 2007. In fact, for each of ridership increase over -1 the last three months the Clean FY 2006-2007. -2 Air Express service has set new Change Percent -3 ridership records. The San Luis More county residents were -4 Obispo Regional Transit Authority biking as well. A bike count in -5 reported a ridership increase June by the Santa Barbara Bicycle -6 of 29 percent for the service Coalition showed a 14 percent -7 -8 Jan Feb Mar between San Luis Obispo and increase in the number of Apr May Jun Santa Maria for FY 2007-2008 bicyclists at the six busiest Source: Caltrans Traffic Operations over the previous fiscal year. intersections in Santa Barbara The graph shows the percent change of vehicle miles traveled in California for the same time over the averages for those periods for 2006, 2007 and 2008. The numbers for 2008 to date show a negative percent change, or a drop in vehicle miles traveled, while the numbers for 2006 and 2007 show some Transit bus ridership was up all intersections since 2000. Bike positive increases in vehicle miles traveled. over the county too. Santa Maria counts are done on midweek Area Transit (SMAT) reported an days, 4:00-6:00 PM, to count more. Said Fertig, “It certainly high price of gas, and the effects 8 percent increase in ridership bicycle commuters in the seems clear that the cost of on valued workers. Many have on SMAT buses for May of 2008 numbers. gasoline is affecting behavior, used the Commute Challenge over May of 2007, and an but likely other factors—like to launch commuter benefits for 11 percent increase for May of Coalition President Ralph Fertig concern about fossil-fuel’s effect employees.“ 2008 over May of 2007 for noted that some local bike shops on our climate, and rising obesity the Breeze Bus service, which were reporting an increase in rates—are also contributing.” Will riders continue to make connects Santa Maria, Vandenberg business, with customers coming alternate-transportation choices as Air Force Base, and Lompoc. in to outfit their bikes for bike In August, SBCAG Traffic gas prices go down? Remarked Guadalupe Transit reported commuting, get their kids’ bikes Solutions launched the Commute Austin O’Dell, Transit Services a 15 percent increase in ready for riding to school, and Challenge program, sponsored Manager for the City of Santa by the District and several Maria, “Of course some of the other agencies. County teams, ridership increase is directly (cont’d) Fires Affect County’s Air including three District teams, are related to the increase in fuel logging alternate-transportation prices. But I think some riders December. Similar wind patterns seasons in the county have lasted miles in August and September, will stay. They are experiencing could occur this year, although into December in recent years, competing for prizes. Just two the benefits of bus transportation, air quality might not be impacted and residents should remain weeks after the program’s launch and have already made changes as significantly. The Gap Fire was prepared and vigilant. there were more than 340 in their commute choices.” He much smaller than the Zaca Fire, teams and more than 1,400 added, “Even when gas prices burning 9,400 acres, compared Call 961-8802 for recorded team members. Traffic Solutions were lower, we could make the to 240,000 for the Zaca Fire, and information on air quality Director Kent Epperson also case for saving money. We like the Basin Complex Fire, while it advisories in English and Spanish. reported that as of August 2008, to say, ‘Give yourself a raise by burned 163,000 acres, was much more than 7,000 commuters taking the bus!’” farther away. Check www.OurAir.org for additional have enrolled on Traffic Solutions information on air quality and our Online to access commuter For more information on Climate scientists project that health, and on how to minimize programs, a 75 percent Commute Challenge, and commute warmer temperatures, dry exposure during and after wildfires. increase since January. He options in the county, see conditions, and earlier snowmelt attributed much of this to the www.trafficsolutions.info. For more in California will produce longer Find out more about how to protect increase in gas prices, and added, information on the Santa Barbara fire seasons, and more wildfires your home on the County Fire “Employers have also grown Car Free Project, see in the state in coming years. Fire Department’s website at www.sbcfire.com. increasingly concerned over the www.SantaBarbaraCarFree.org. Page 2 New Manager of Engineering On the Air and Compliance Division ichael Goldman was for the fifteen offshore platforms. Looking ahead, he noted, “Our APCD Board Mrecently promoted to He was centrally involved challenge will be to maintain a high Roundup the position of Manager of in permit streamlining and level of customer service while the District’s Engineering and automation, and in developing we take on new responsibilities, Compliance Division, replacing the District’s New Source implementing new rules for Following are the highlights Peter Cantle, who left in March.