New homes in Contra Costa and San Mateo Counties will now be built with cleaner burning fireplaces, under recently passed ordinances. Contra Costa's regulations were the first countywide woodburning regulations in the state, and affect unincorporated portions of the county. They require secondary combusion chambers on the small woodburning "builder box" fireplaces popular in new homes, and on existing fireplaces if they are affected by remodeling which requires a county permit. New open hearth or masonry fireplaces will need smoke cleaning devices.
Using cleaner woodburning fireplaces, or substituting gasburning ones, is a major step toward reducing particulate emissions during the winter months. For more information on pollution from fireplaces, and guidelines on their use, contact the BAAQMD, 415-771-6000, or http://www.sparetheair.org
For more information on the county ordinances: Contra Costa County, 925-335-1046; San Mateo County, 650-363-4572.
Beginning in April, drivers will see a new signal light on the back of Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) buses. The new triangular "Yield" signs, used with flashing indicator lights on a bus leaving a bus stop, will signal drivers that they must let the bus merge into traffic. Drivers must yield the right of way to the bus or be liable for a fine, starting at $35.
The Yield to Bus program is being launched by VTA and the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District, the first agencies in the state to participate, during a test period for a new state law. The test will extend from April 2, 2001 to January 1, 2003. The program will be monitored by the California Highway Patrol, which will report on its effectiveness at the end of 2002. The new law is intended to encourage transit use in congested areas for commuting and also for trips to school, shopping and social and cultural activities.