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| To Your Health & Prosperity |
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Across the Triangle region the area’s quality of life is regularly touted among its greatest assets. Yet, what is included in the definition of quality of life or quality of place will determine the outcome. If environmental quality is included in the definition, then there may be clouds on the region’s horizon.
North Carolina has consistently been ranked as one of the worst states for air pollution in recent years. As a result of air quality monitoring and the application of national standards, ozone levels have been found to be unsafe in 35 counties, and small particulate matter causes unsafe conditions in 15 counties. These counties include the Triangle region and they must be bought back into air quality compliance. Failure to reach conformity can result in permit sanctions and the loss of Federal funding for growth related infrastructure. Local governments and the state may take any number of actions to improve air quality and avoid regulatory penalties. Reducing congestion, expanding auto emission inspections, increasing mass transit, and tightening point source emissions are among the first efforts. Reaching beyond the immediately obvious, greenways offer additional ways to positively address air quality. Protecting existing trees and replanting cleared areas are air quality mitigation actions recommended by the EPA. Thus, continuous greenway corridors will constitute the only semblance of a true urban forest. For example, Raleigh’s Comprehensive Plan projects 6000 greenway acres by the year 2025 and that will be a substantial forest. When interconnected with other greenway acreage throughout the region, they will be the largest single source of conserved forest for air quality mitigation. Greenways with trails provide the facilities to support non motorized transportation. While admittedly limited in maximum transportation use, these trails will nevertheless reduce traffic congestion and contribute to air quality improvement. The multiple purpose character of greenways are perhaps their greatest advantage. While providing identifiable and positive air quality benefits, greenways will also serve other public purposes. They provide close to home locations for recreation/exercise, maintain functional ecological systems, buffer stream water quality, avoid flood damage and disruption, and are sites for informal and formal environmental education. Cumulatively, greenways make a greater contribution to an area’s quality of life than perhaps any other public expenditure. They are the most cost effective way to assure the health and prosperity of the region in the time of rapid growth. That is even more reason for them to be pursued as part of the solution to current air quality problems. |
Greenways meet an ever growing need, a need to leave the hectic city (if only for a moment) and to experience earth beneath your feet and fresh air in your lungs – to feel life and to feel alive.
— VICTORIA LOGUE
— VICTORIA LOGUE
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