Clean Air Radio- Tune In, Log On, Speak Out!
SPEC clears the air on freeway expansion and sustainable options with Highway 1 commuters


For Immediate Release


June 12, 2006, Surrey- The inaugural broadcast of Clean Air Radio went live today at 7 am from the foot of the Port Mann Bridge. Through Clean Air Radio (CAR), SPEC is opening a dialogue with users of the Highway 1 corridor and other commuters to clear up misleading statements on freeway expansion promoted by the provincial government and to discuss sustainable options to twinning the Port Mann Bridge.

“Kevin Falcon and Gordon Campbell have put forward a freeway expansion plan that will only force citizens in the Lower Mainland to become more dependent upon their cars and they will say anything to get their way,” said David Fields, Transportation Campaigner with SPEC. “So far we have heard misleading half truths and unproven claims from the Province, it is time to clear the air.”

Kevin Falcon has stated publicly that his plan to expand Highway 1 will improve air quality and declines to provide any proof of his statement yet claims that a study exists. Gordon Campbell has claimed that the plan will reduce greenhouse gas emissions yet likewise has not provided proof.

“Climate Change is one of the greatest threats we face on a global scale. Regionally, transportation is a critical issue. We have an opportunity as a region to make a positive difference by refusing car-dependence and Kevin Falcon’s Evil Twin by instead building upon the sustainable approach we have already taken through increasing transportation choices for people, especially south of the Fraser River.”

SPEC and the Livable Region Coalition propose a suite of sustainable measures that includes increased public transit service south of the Fraser River, increased SkyTrain capacity and a bullet bus to cross the existing Port Mann Bridge using a bypass lane to avoid congested traffic. A recently released provincial assessment of the bullet bus option alone found that it could reduce queued traffic by up to 35%.

Clean Air Radio is a low-power FM “multicast” using a solar powered 2 Watt transmitter and a companion blog at www.cleanairradio.ca. Listeners can tune in on 88.5 FM and download the podcast from the blog. Dialogue is key- feedback can be provided by calling the SPEC office at 604-736-7732, leaving voicemail through the blog, adding comments to stories and sending email to cleanairradio@gmail.com.

For more information please contact:

David Fields, Transportation Campaigner, 604-722-4775
Karen Wristen, Executive Director, 604-788-5634