Bus site plan blasted

June 20, 2006

By JOEL DAVIDSON

Frontiersman

MAT-SU - A proposal to locate a bus barn parking lot and garage near an established subdivision, church and retail mall in Wasilla has Mat-Su residents worried about air pollution, water quality and traffic problems.

Laidlaw International Inc. successfully outbid First Student and won a contract to transport Mat-Su Borough students next year. Since then, the company has run into numerous obstacles, while attempting to find a suitable site to park its nearly 150 buses.

The company chose not to use the bus barn site that First Student has used on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway. Instead, Laidlaw proposed to locate its bus operation near the Parks Highway at the former site of Alaska Sales and Service.

Tom Hyatt, the company's Alaska manager, answered a barrage of questions last week from Mat-Su School Board members, who doubted whether the 3.94-acre location was suitable for such a large parking and maintenance operation.

Concerns about the site's septic system, water capacity and leach field were all raised during the June 14 school board meeting.

Hyatt tried to quell any &#8220misunderstandings” in addressing the board members' concerns.

The septic system and sewer lines contain oil that need removing before the state will approve the location for business use. In addition, large mounds of contaminated dirt must also be removed.

Hyatt said Laidlaw is working with the current property owner to correct any environmental issues before the company purchases the land.

As for the parking, he said there is more than enough room.

According to its contract with the school district, Laidlaw must be able to park at least 148 buses on the site. Despite claims to the contrary, Hyatt said his company has a proven parking plan that has already been successfully used in Fairbanks and other locations.

&#8220These facilities are more than adequate,” he told the board.

Several neighborhood residents opposed the site due to what they say will be excessive exhaust from the buses, as well as heavy traffic that they claim might lead to accidents in the neighborhood. Children were a particular concern.

&#8220They are going to be road kill,” neighborhood resident Steven Watts told the board. &#8220There is no doubt in my mind.”

Hyatt assured the board that buses would not use neighborhood roads to access the highway. Instead, he said buses will use the frontage road along the Parks Highway.

That plan didn't alleviate concerns of others who complained that the more than 200 Laidlaw employees will clog neighborhood streets on their way to work. Others complained that traffic along the frontage road will cause delays for people trying to get to work.

Hyatt said Laidlaw is currently working with traffic engineers to submit a traffic impact analysis to the Department of Transportation. From there, DOT will determine the impact and possible traffic-flow upgrades that might be necessary.

More important than traffic is the impact to human health, said Tammie Doramus.

Doramus owns Custom Glass, located just a few feet from the proposed bus parking lot.

Doramus suffers from a long-standing breathing problem, which she said is aggravated by exhaust fumes.

&#8220If they were to do this, I will not be able to come to work,” she said Monday. &#8220Exhaust fumes close off my breathing.”

Whether Laidlaw deals with air quality issues is up to the state Air Quality Division.

Bob Morgan, an environmental program specialist for the division, said there are state laws that prohibit air pollution when it poses a danger to public health. Proving that buses that are idling in the morning pose a real danger to public health, will be difficult he said.

&#8220We have land-use conflicts like this all the time,” he said. &#8220On the one hand, these guys have the right to do what they want in a commercially zoned place, but on the other hand, it may be a nuisance to the neighbors.”

The state won't get involved over a nuisance, Morgan said.

&#8220We would have to determine if it is presenting any real health problems,” he explained. &#8220We do that on a case-by-case basis.”

According to its contract, Laidlaw has until July 22 to complete all the paperwork, permits and inspections.

&#8220We do have our work cut out for us,” Hyatt told the school board. &#8220I realize that.”

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266 or joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.