|
|  The City of Plano is located 20 miles north of Downtown Dallas, in Collin County. Plano is the largest city in Collin County with an estimated population of 246,869. The City boundaries include 72.5 square miles and are supported by four major transportation arteries. DART bus and railway services are available in Plano as well. In a survey conducted in February 2004 of Plano citizens, Plano was ranked as “the best, or one of the best places in the Metroplex to live” with a 72.7% approval rate.
A growing population, major transportation arteries, and access to transit services (DART), makes Plano an alluring area for citizens’ daily commutes. Due to the increasing number of single occupancy vehicles there is an increase in the emission of Nox (nitrogen oxide) and VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) into the air. Over 50% of NOx emissions are from on-road vehicles. Emissions of NOx and VOC’s turn into ozone after baking in the hot sun. Optimum conditions for the formation of ozone include high temperatures and low winds. As a result, ozone season spans the months from May to October.
Air pollution not only affects our environment, but our health and the economy as well. Those most at risk are children, the elderly and people with suppressed immune systems and respiratory problems. Ozone can cause difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, aggravated or prolonged coughing and chest pain, increased aggravation of asthma, susceptibility to respiratory infection, chronic inflammation and premature aging of the lungs and illness such as bronchitis and emphysema and reduced ability to perform exercise and premature death.
The U.S. EPA has declared North Texas as a “nonattainment” region including Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall and Tarrant Counties. Economic consequences such as increased difficulty in locating or expanding businesses in the area as a result of increased offset ratios, local leadership may be removed from the planning process, additional restrictions may be imposed, and possible loss of transportation funds for roadway capacity improvements will occur if we fail to reach attainment.
This Web site is made available by The City of Plano. Neither the City of Plano nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.
Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the City of Plano. The views and opinions of originators expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the City of Plano.
We reserve the right to make all decisions in regard to what material is added to this Web site, including the right to reject submissions.
| |
|
|