A two-year study into the air quality at New Westminster's Front Street parkade has Coun. Chuck Puchmayr wondering about truck traffic.
The study, done between January 2009 and December 2010, showed the concentration of contaminants under the parkade was highest on weekdays when trucks were going through the area and the numbers were well above Metro Vancouver's stated air quality objectives.
Also as part of the study, an air monitor placed just outside the parkade showed results "suggesting that the poor air quality conditions did not extend far beyond the parkade structure."
"High levels of air contaminants were noted at the downtown parkade site which are likely related to a combination of high commercial traffic activity on Front Street and the restricted dispersion of vehicular emissions by the parkade structure," said the report. "The study noted that public exposure to these air contaminant concentrations can contribute to health effects."
The report also states that action should be taken "to reduce exposure of people to air quality conditions present under the parkade at Front Street."
Puchmayr said he was concerned for people who work in the area and are subjected to these increased levels of pollution.
"For shoppers who are going down to Antique Alley or who are going to Army & Navy, I think there's minimal exposure, but for full-time workers, I think it's a concern we need to look at. What's causing the air contamination issues and how do we address pollution at its source?"
Puchmayr said the city needs to look at truck traffic patterns and whether there's a way to have more truck traffic routed to the Port Mann Bridge and the South Fraser Perimeter Road.
Puchmayr pointed out that the current plan for trucks to use the South Fraser Perimeter Road and then get onto the Number 1 near 176th in Surrey is "ludicrous" and planners should find a way to have trucks access the Port Mann Bridge, closer to the Fraser River, rather than use the Pattullo Bridge and go through the Royal City.
"I realize that traffic naturally defaults to New Westminster because of its (central) location, but I believe the solution is to have trucks use the Port Mann."
One thing Puchmayr doesn't see happening is a quicker timeframe to take down the parkade.
"That's not the solution to pollution in the area," he said. "What are the root causes of the pollution?"
The report to council comes after a recent meeting between members of New Westminster's downtown business community and city council and staff about the future of the parkade.
Members of the downtown business community are worried that the city will tear down the parkade to improve connectivity to the waterfront without replacing parking capacity elsewhere downtown.
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