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P/SUNNY Temp: 63 °F Wind: WNW at 9 mph Wednesday, June 18, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend May 12, 2003 Grants will help finance paving to cut air pollution By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Federal grants totaling $4.4 million will pave the way for 16 projects in Jackson County that will help improve air quality in the next four years, announced the Rogue Valley Council of Governments recently. "We’ve identified projects that will help air quality in Jackson County," said Dan Moore, RVCOG planning program manager for transportation and land use. Projects, which will begin in 2004 and end in 2007, range from sidewalks near an elementary school to paving roads across the county. RVCOG estimates that about 1,700 pounds of pollutants will be reduced on a daily basis as a result of implementing the funded projects. Advertisement The money comes from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program. Moore said the federal government decides every four years which projects it will be funding. The various projects were identified recently by the Rogue Valley Metropolitan Organization Policy Committee. This will mean $1.1 million is spent annually in the Medford-Ashland Air Quality Maintenance Area, within a federally designated boundary from Eagle Point to Ashland. The money will pay for paving streets in Ashland, Central Point, Medford and in the county to reduce the amount of dust — particulate pollution — generated from traffic on dirt streets. Phoenix will use funds to build bike lanes and sidewalks, and Talent will build a bicycle/pedestrian bridge over Bear Creek. About $600,000 in grant money will fund several programs of Rogue Valley Transportation District: An employer trip reduction incentive program. Increased funding for the Rogue Valley Transportation Management Association. An annual Smart Growth conference. Bicycle education. Improvements to RVTD’s buses, such as additional bicycle racks and automated information collection for improved route scheduling. RVTD and the city of Medford will collaborate on a project to build sidewalks near Howard Elementary School and a program to increase walking to schools. Nearly $50,000 will be used by Rogue Disposal to provide clean diesel technology for eight refuse collection trucks. Moore said the federal program has been in effect since 1991. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times