Chamber’s Regional Traffic Advisory Committee Meets to Strike Balance Between Commerce and Safety

The Big Bear Chamber of Commerce met Wednesday with local traffic and road condition agencies, including the California Highway Patrol, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, the City of Big Bear Lake’s Public Works Department, CalTrans and Big Bear Mountain Resorts. Per the statement released today with regard to the Regional Traffic Advisory Committee, the Chamber says: “The meeting was geared toward looking at ways to improve communications among agencies, better driving conditions and talk about when and why roads were closed. Captain Greg Garland of the Sheriff’s Department commented, ‘All of the agencies are listening to everyone’s concerns and we are on the side of commerce, but public safety is our number one priority. We closed the roads because we needed to get them cleared to bring in supplies and equipment.’ Rick Sanders of the CHP echoed Captain Garland’s sentiments and stressed that they have been doing everything possible to balance public safety and Big Bear’s economy. ‘We are working with all agencies and everyone is doing the best job they can,’ said Sanders.
The Big Bear Chamber of Commerce has been working hard to get the businesses up and running in the aftermath of this recent storm to ensure they can recover and benefit from the influx of visitors that will be coming to Big Bear this weekend. Per Sara Russ, President and CEO of the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce, ‘From working to connect snow removal services to businesses, sending e-blasts with up-to-date road conditions, helping non-resident business owners get up to Big Bear, and even shoveling snow ourselves for several Village and Moonridge businesses, we have been doing everything possible to get things going again.’
The Chamber knows that snow equals commerce and we are doing everything we can to improve driving conditions, keep the roads open and maintained, and get our businesses the information they need to be successful during all types of weather.”