New Panel to Study Traffic Problems

In an effort to reduce traffic in the Simi Valley area and help employers comply with a county regulation requiring fewer commutes, the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce on Thursday announced the formation of the Simi Valley Transportation Management Assn.

It is one of three such organizations in the county formed so employers, developers and government representatives can work together on transportation policies, programs and services. Two other organizations have been formed in Oxnard.

Richard Baldwin, the county’s air pollution control officer, said the association would help employers put together ride-share programs.

Last June, Caltrans signed an agreement with the Simi Valley chamber guaranteeing $60,000 to implement the transportation management association. The chamber must put up matching funds or perform services that would match the grant.

On Thursday, Charles Coffey, the executive director of the association, said traffic congestion has brought about changing times.

“We must change the commuting habits of our populace,” Coffey said. “We’re not just talking about car-pooling or van-pooling. We are talking about bus transportation, bicycling, jogging, variable work hours, telecommuting and parking management.”

In 1989, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors passed Rule 210, which requires that employers with 100 or more employees submit plans to the county’s Air Pollution Control District showing reduction of home-to-work trips--specifically, one out of every three cars must have two passengers.

On Nov. 1, the county began sending notices to large companies, beginning at in the east county. About 30 notices a month will be sent over the next 10 months. Once the notice is received, companies have 120 days to file a trip-reduction plan.

The rule will extend to employers with 75 or more employees in August, 1991, and all other businesses by January, 1992. Failure to submit trip-reduction plans could result in fines or imprisonment.

Potential services to be offered by the association include computerized van-pool, car-pool and transit information, computerized traffic monitoring services, van-pool subsidies, guaranteed ride home services and development of employee on-site child care.

Simi Valley has 25 employers with more than 100 employees.