Participants raised concerns about air pollution, noise and equity when locating housing near freeways and asked that the transportation chapter reflect health impacts. "I am super torn about the surplus land and building housing on it because it's a huge amount of land that's right next to the freeway and, like, the most particulate," Participant 1 said, urging staff to consult studies about particulate (PM2.5) exposure and setbacks.

The group noted that green buffers and daylighting can mitigate particulate exposure at distances of several hundred feet, and suggested referencing relevant studies to guide policy on where housing and sensitive uses should be located relative to highways.

Funding was a prominent concern. Participant 1 summarized a recent Streets Department presentation estimating roughly $500,000,000 would be needed to bring local access roads up to a basic, good standard. "It's $500,000,000," Participant 1 said. Participants discussed gas-tax declines and the equity of current revenue sources; Participant 4 said the chapter could include language supporting exploration of road-user charges as a long-term funding mechanism.

No vote or funding decision was made at the meeting; participants asked staff to include health and equity considerations and to note funding constraints and possible funding mechanisms in the draft chapter.