Southland : Car-Pool Rules May Change

The board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District will meet Friday to decide on changes to its rule requiring that Southland employers with more than 100 workers reduce employee use of autos during rush hour. Area employers spend an estimated $160 million annually to sponsor car and van pools, subsidize transit passes and offer other incentives to comply with the rule. The rule has been praised for reducing smog and congestion, but businesses have criticized it as costly and ineffective. In response, the board will consider several changes, including allowing firms to install electronic monitors to find heavily polluting vehicles, buy and scrap employees’ older cars that emit more pollutants than newer models, and impose parking fees on solo drivers and use the proceeds to reward car-poolers. A public hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. at the district headquarters, 21865 Copley Drive in Diamond Bar. The board is to vote after the hearing.