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 HOMENORTH TEXAS CLEAN AIR COALITION® P. O. Box 610246 DFW Airport, Texas 75261-0246 972.621.0400 (voice) 972.929.0916 (fax) |
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 North Texas Employers Recognized with Air Quality Awards (10.18.06)One Day a Week Gets You an Extra Week a Year (8.28.06)Ease Your Ride - Share the Drive (7.31.06)North Texas Free Fare Transit Day July 18 (7.11.06)Get On And Go (6.28.06)Clean Vehicles Make Cents (6.1.06)Help Improve Air Quality: Forget the Ride, Lunch Inside
May is Bike/Walk/Brownbag Month in North Texas (5.8.06)North Texans Drive Nearly a Half-Million Miles Less During 2005 Air Pollution Season (11.11.05)North Texans Recognized for Excellence in Improving Air Quality (10.28.05)North Texas Employers Honored for Offering Superior Commuter Benefits (10.19.05)Rising Gas Prices Have North Texans Looking for Cheaper Ways to Work (9.2.05)North Texas Clean Air Coalition & EPA Honors those Contributing to Cleaner Air
The Best Workplaces for CommutersSM campaign, sponsored by the North Texas Clean Air Coalition and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is an innovative, voluntary business-government program that provides national recognition to employers offering outstanding commuter benefits. Employers may qualify by offering benefits such as free or low cost transit passes, strong telecommute programs, or vanpool subsidies. Employers that submit applications showing they meet the EPA's National Standard of Excellence in commuter benefits make the list of Best Workplaces for CommutersSM — a fast-growing mark of excellence in environmental leadership. In addition to the Best Workplaces for CommutersSM award, the North Texas Clean Air Coalition also recognizes local commuters and employers who have demonstrated that alternatives to drive-alone commuting such as transit, carpools, and telecommuting are economically beneficial, yielding value to workers, employers, and our environment. Winners were honored at award luncheons in Fort Worth on October 18 and in Dallas on October 19. Dallas Area Award Winners: Employer of the Year, Over 500 employees - Raytheon, McKinney and Plano Employer of the Year, Under 500 employees - Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Employee Transportation Coordinator of the Year - Nancy Yarberry, Environmental Protection Agency Bike Commuter of the Year - Tim Gibson, Aspect Software Fort Worth Area Award Winners: Employer of the Year, Over 500 employees - General Services Administration Employer of the Year, Under 500 employees - Motheral Printing Employee Transportation Coordinator of the Year - Kirsten Walker, American Airlines Vanpool of the Year - Nerissa Miller, TXU Vanpool Driver of the Year - Roy Morrison, Vought Aircraft The North Texas Clean Air Coalition appreciates the 2006 sponsors who have made it possible for us to continue promoting cleaner air in North Texas. Our Foundation Sponsor is TXU Power. Bell Helicopter, The Container Store, and Texas Instruments are aiding sponsors. The North Texas Clean Air Coalition was formed in 1993 to educate North Texans about air quality and encourage individuals to “do their share for cleaner air.” Members of the coalition include the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the North Texas Commission, the Greater Dallas Chamber, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, the Denton County Transportation Authority, and numerous individuals, cities and businesses. During the region’s ozone season (May – October), the North Texas Clean Air Coalition promotes alternatives to drive-alone commuting through advertising, employer outreach, e-mail campaigns, media relations and the Web-based Commuter Challenge. Telecommuting adds up to extra time, extra money
Telecommuting, the practice of working outside the office from home or another satellite location, benefits both workers and employers. The North Texas Clean Air Coalition has designated September as Try Telecommuting Month. Why telecommute? Studies show employees who telecommute are happier and more productive than their in-office counterparts. Without the distractions of the office or the stress of a commute, telecommuters can focus on their tasks and complete them more efficiently. In a study of Nortel employees, almost 100 percent of telecommuters reported a decrease in stress due to the ability to work from home1. This can be attributed to the reduced commute time, increased flexibility and reduced personal costs. Telecommuters can save money not only on gas, but on wardrobe and dry-cleaning costs, and lunch and snack expenses. For employers, telecommuting can save money in parking and office space costs. It allows a more flexible work arrangement for employees, which can increase their productivity. The more flexible work schedule also reduces absenteeism and sick leave. For the community, the benefits of companies adopting trip reduction and telecommuting are clear. They include improvement in air quality, a reduction in vehicle congestion, fuel conservation, greenhouse gas emission reduction, and an improved quality of life for residents. Who would be a good telecommuter? Reliable, independent, well-organized employees who require little supervision make the best telecommuters. Ideal telecommuters have tasks that can be done at home, require little face-to-face contact with customers, have access to the equipment needed to work at home, and can work with little supervision. Information-focused jobs are best such as those requiring reading or writing. Get Rewards Drivers who try telecommuting are eligible to enter The Commuter Challenge, an Internet contest that rewards North Texas commuters who carpool, vanpool, bring a sack lunch, telecommute, or take the bus or train to work. To enter the contest, commuters need only share the ride to work or school, cut out trips by eating lunch at the office, or telecommute. By simply logging on to www.tryparkingit.com to document which commute solution they chose and how many miles they saved, drivers become eligible to win prizes. Each entry increases the odds of winning one of many great prizes. The grand-prize winner will receive a $1,000 ELFA space makeover from The Container Store. Other prizes include: - $500 debit cards, provided by the North Texas Clean Air Coalition - Portable DVD players, provided by Holcim (Texas) LP - $500 Best Buy gift card, provided by TXI - iPod nano 4GB and accessories, provided by Ash Grove Texas, L.P. - iPod nano 4GB and accessories, provided by Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal, L.L.P. - Free oil changes for one year, provided by Firestone Complete Auto Care About the North Texas Clean Air Coalition The North Texas Clean Air Coalition was formed in 1993 to educate North Texans about air quality and encourage individuals to “do their share for cleaner air.” Members of the coalition include the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the North Texas Commission, the Greater Dallas Chamber, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, the Denton County Transportation Authority, and numerous individuals, cities and businesses. TXU Power is NTCAC’s foundation sponsor. Aiding sponsors include Texas Instruments and The Container Store. During the region’s ozone season (May – October), the North Texas Clean Air Coalition promotes alternatives to drive-alone commuting through advertising, employer outreach, e-mail campaigns, media relations and the Web-based Commuter Challenge. 1 The Telework Coaltion www.telcoa.org August is Carpool/Vanpool Month in North Texas
Ridesharing can save 500 gallons of gasoline a year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. At $3 per gallon, that’s a savings of $1,500 a year. August is Carpool/Vanpool Month in North Texas, and the Clean Air Coalition is encouraging commuters to try sharing their drives through carpools or vanpools. Ridesharing can save money on fuel, insurance, and car maintenance. It can also reduce time spent on the road, because carpools and vanpools can use High-Occupancy Vehicle lanes. When they're not behind the wheel, carpoolers/vanpoolers can read, nap, or chat during their commute, reducing stress. And ridesharing helps reduce air pollution, fuel consumption, traffic congestion, and greenhouse gas emissions. “Rideshare has so many advantages,” says Brenda A. Gee, an employee of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. “We don’t have to fight for a parking space and we are well relaxed and refreshed upon arriving to work.” Gee has been carpooling for 21 years. Gee and her colleagues travel at least 30 miles each day to and from work, leaving home early in the morning and returning home after 6:00 at night. “We save mileage and maintenance on our cars,” Gee adds, “There is no walking to your cars in the heat in the summer, or cold in the winter. Because we have a designated driver, we can have short nap before we arrive home, read the latest news, listen to the radio, or participate in the conversation of the day with our fellow employees. Who would not want to vanpool?” Using the HOV lanes enables these commuters to avoid rush hour slowdowns and reduce travel times. Currently there are HOV lanes open on Interstate Highway 30 (East R. L. Thornton Freeway), I. H. 35E (Stemmons Freeway), I. H. 635 (LBJ Freeway), I. H. 35E (South R. L. Thornton Freeway), and U.S. 67 (Marvin D. Love Freeway). More details are provided on the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Web site, www.dart.org. How Does Ridesharing Work? There are three basic types of rideshare arrangements: - Carpoolers can use one car owned by one driver. The riders and driver agree to an amount paid periodically to the driver, to cover operating costs for the daily commute. - Carpoolers can rotate car use so that each person's vehicle and driving time is shared equally. No money is exchanged in this arrangement. - Carpoolers can use a van owned by a local transit agency, such as DART or The T. Typically six to 15 people can share a ride, dividing the monthly vehicle fee among all riders. Carpoolers/vanpoolers can also make arrangements to meet at park-and-ride locations to begin their shared ride. There are several park-and-ride locations throughout the Metroplex. There are seven park-and-ride lots along the LBJ Freeway alone. There are also almost 20 park-and-ride locations within the DART service area, making it easier to use DART transportation services. Another strategic location for park-and-ride lots is near HOV lanes, enabling people to form rideshares at the park-and-ride lots and access the HOV lanes for quicker travel. Also, there are two park-and-ride lots in the Fort Worth Transportation Authority’s service area, and two in Arlington. Starting a Carpool/Vanpool If you are interested in carpooling or vanpooling, check first around your neighborhood and your worksite. You may find someone who works and lives close by and works similar hours. If you can't find anyone this way, DART and The T offer free ride-matching. Call DART at (214) 749-RIDE or the T at (817) 336-RIDE. Get Rewards Drivers who try ridesharing are eligible to enter The Commuter Challenge, an Internet contest that rewards North Texas commuters who carpool, vanpool, bring a sack lunch, telecommute, or take the bus or train to work. To enter the contest, commuters need only share the ride to work or school, cut out trips by eating lunch at the office, or telecommute. By simply logging on to www.tryparkingit.com to document which commute solution they chose and how many miles they saved, drivers become eligible to win prizes. Each entry increases the odds of winning one of many great prizes. The grand-prize winner will receive a $1,000 ELFA space make-over from The Container Store. Other prizes include: - $500 debit cards, provided by the North Texas Clean Air Coalition - Portable DVD players, provided by Holcim (Texas) LP - $500 Best Buy gift card, provided by TXI - iPod nano 4GB and accessories, provided by Ash Grove Texas, L.P. - iPod nano 4GB and accessories, provided by Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal, L.L.P. - Free Oil Changes for One Year, provided by Firestone Complete Auto Care About the North Texas Clean Air Coalition The North Texas Clean Air Coalition was formed in 1993 to educate North Texans about air quality and encourage individuals to “do their share for cleaner air.” Members of the coalition include the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the North Texas Commission, the Greater Dallas Chamber, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, the Denton County Transportation Authority, and numerous individuals, cities and businesses. During the region’s ozone season (May – October), the North Texas Clean Air Coalition promotes alternatives to drive-alone commuting through advertising, employer outreach, e-mail campaigns, media relations and the Web-based Commuter Challenge.
Public transit saves money, eases traffic congestion and allows you to do your share for cleaner air in North Central Texas. A commuter who uses public transportation on a regular basis can save from $300 to $3,000 a year, according to the American Public Transportation Association. “North Texans can positively impact our region’s air quality by utilizing our regional transportation systems, simultaneously saving money at the gas pump,” said Jim Burke, CEO of TXU Energy, a business unit of TXU Corp., the sponsor for DART promotion of Free Fare Transit Day. “Its vitally important that we all work together to do our part for cleaner air.” To help you plan your trip on North Texas Free Fare Transit Day, here are some tips: Trinity Railway Express (TRE) A convenient and popular connection between Dallas and Fort Worth for both work and entertainment, the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) has nine regular stops, plus a special event stop during American Airlines Center events. Jointly owned and operated by DART and The T, the TRE operates from early morning to late at night, Monday–Saturday, carrying an average of 8,000 passengers daily. At $4.50 a round-trip, the TRE gets you across the Metroplex for less than it costs to drive and without the traffic delays. With your premium pass, you’ll also ride free all day on the entire DART System and on The Fort Worth T. The TRE is comfortable and simple to use: Park your vehicle at one of the park & ride locations and hop aboard. The 35-mile trip includes stops in Richland Hills, Hurst and Irving. Destination maps and schedules can be found onboard trains or by visiting www.trinityrailwayexpress.org. You can also speak to a DART Customer Service representative at 214.979.1111, or a T representative at 817.215.8600. Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Sit back, relax and let DART’s network of trains and buses take you all around Dallas and 12 surrounding cities, making it easy to get to your favorite destinations. DART’s 45-mile light rail system includes two lines: The Red Line extends from Plano to West Oak Cliff, while the Blue Line stretches from Garland to East Oak Cliff. There are 35 convenient rail stations along the lines. Nearly 130 bus routes – powered by ultra-low-sulfur diesel and liquefied natural gas -- cover more than 700 square miles of exciting destinations. Either way you go, the DART System is easy to use. Simply head to a train station, transit center or bus stop, hop aboard and get off at your stop. DART Rail system maps are displayed onboard each light rail vehicle, and operators announce each stop. Comprehensive system maps, as well as bus schedules for each route, are available at DART Transit Centers. DART’s $2.50 Day Pass is the most economical way to ride. It’s good all day for both bus and rail trips. Passengers may purchase a day pass from a ticket vending machine at any of the rail stations. High school students (with a photo ID), children (ages 5-14) and seniors (over 65) can ride all day for $1. Single-ride options are available and good for 90 minutes of train travel or a single bus trip (no transfers). Rail-only tickets are not valid on buses. Monthly passes are also available for as little as $40. After riding for free on July 18, find out just how much you can save by visiting www.DART.org/fares and calculating the cost of your commute. For schedule information or to plan a trip, visit www.DART.org/fares or call 214.979.1111 Monday through Friday from 6a.m.-8p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8a.m.-5p.m. Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) The T in Fort Worth offers travel aboard clean-emission compressed natural gas buses from 5 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday with Sunday service available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. In addition, four express routes allow virtually nonstop travel weekdays from designated park & ride lots to downtown Fort Worth and to the Trinity Railway Express at the Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC) at Jones & 9th Streets. All buses have accommodations for wheelchairs and exterior bike racks. The T’s frequent service covers Fort Worth’s cultural and entertainment districts, in addition to downtown, major employment centers, and connections to the Trinity Railway Express and Amtrak at the ITC. All bus stops and transfer centers have an easily identifiable sign with the T’s star logo, the name of the bus route and the customer service phone number. Each bus has a destination sign above the windshield with its route number and name, as well as the bus’s final destination. Bus fares may be paid on board the bus with exact cash, or day and monthly passes may be bought at The T’s customer service offices at the ITC, corner of Jones & 9th, or at the T’s headquarters at 1600 E. Lancaster. Monthly passes may be purchased online at www.The-Tstore.com and at the following grocery stores: Minyard, Carnival, Sack ‘n Save and Fiesta Mart. There are three basic types of pass: A local pass for bus and TRE service in Tarrant County only; a premium pass that covers all T and DART service and the TRE; and a reduced fare pass for qualifying seniors, students and persons with disabilities. Passengers can use The T’s trip planner and find out about bus routes, times and locations by visiting www.The-Tstore.com or calling 817.215.8600 from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) Since DCTA was founded in 2003, it has created options for public transit users in Denton County. Most recently, DCTA launched the Commuter Express service, offering express motor coach trips from park & rides in Lewisville and Denton to downtown Dallas. The Commuter Express shares eight stops in Dallas with DART, making transfers to DART’s system seamless for commuters. For those interested in traveling from Dallas to Denton, DCTA has a reverse commute ending at the University of North Texas (UNT) campus and three stops in Denton. To better serve students, professors, and university employees, the Commuter Express is available free of charge with a UNT ID. DCTA plans to run a pilot program using biodiesel fuel on the Commuter Express coaches. In the City of Denton, DCTA serves more than 1.2 million riders a year through local bus service and the UNT shuttle system. DCTA hopes to increase ridership countywide in 2006 by expanding service in Denton and adding new local fixed-route service in Lewisville. These additional services will be provided by new buses that run on ultra-low-sulfur diesel. For more information on DCTA services, passengers may visit the website at www.dcta.net or call customer service at 940.243.0077 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. July is Try Transit Month in North Texas
“Drive-alone commuting is the biggest reason North Texas faces serious air quality and traffic congestion problems,” said Dennis Mochon of the North Texas Clean Air Coalition. More than half of the harmful ozone-forming emissions in the Dallas-Fort Worth region come from cars, trucks and SUVs. To encourage people to try public transportation, the North Texas Clean Air Coalition, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) have declared July Try Transit Month in North Texas. As an incentive, regional transit agencies are offering FREE service all day on Tuesday, July 18. This includes all fixed route bus, light rail and commuter rail services. A portion of the funding for the Free Fare Transit Day was made possible by a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality supplemental environmental project. Commuter Challenge Texans’ love affair with their cars and trucks is legendary, so convincing North Texans to drive less to reduce air pollution calls for innovative measures. Beginning July 1, the North Texas Clean Air Coalition is rewarding commuters who “try parking it” for cleaner air and less traffic congestion. The Commuter Challenge is an Internet contest that rewards North Texas commuters who carpool, bring a sack lunch, telecommute, vanpool or take the bus or train to work. To enter the contest, commuters need only share the ride to work or school, cut out trips by eating lunch at the office, or telecommute. By simply logging on to www.tryparkingit.com to document which commute solution they chose and how many miles they saved, drivers become eligible to win prizes. Each entry increases the odds of winning one of many great prizes such as iPods, portable DVD players, and a $1,000 space make-over provided by The Container Store. Additional prize donors include Holcim (Texas) LP and TXI. Ozone Season Is Upon Us During the region’s ozone season (May – October), the North Texas Clean Air Coalition promotes alternatives to drive-alone commuting through advertising, employer outreach, e-mail campaigns, media relations and a web-based Commuter Challenge. Every month has a different commute solutions theme: - July: Try Transit Month - August: Vanpool/Carpool Month - September: Telecommute Month - October: Employer Recognition Month Alternative Fuels and Clean Air Technologies Contribute to Savings at the Pump, and Improve Air Quality
As the North Texas region continues to struggle with poor air quality, alternative fuels and clean air technologies also play an important role in helping improve air quality by emitting less harmful pollutants and exhaust emissions. Alternative fuels are quickly becoming more accessible in the region. Locations of stations that provide propane, compressed natural gas (CNG), biodiesel and other alternative fuels can be found through the U.S. Department of Energy’s website: www.afdcmap2.nrel.gov/locator/findpane.asp They’re also adding up to savings for drivers, costing around 50 cents per gallon less than regular gasoline in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Other clean air technologies, such as hybrid electric vehicles, are continuing to grow in popularity and are now offered by numerous auto manufacturers in compact, sedan and sport utility models. Hybrid electric vehicles use a small motor and an electric engine to generate the power to drive the vehicle, and require no special refueling. (See attached description of all alternative fuels available.) Even gasoline-powered vehicles can contribute to cleaner air by running more efficiently. Properly inflated tires, regular oil changes and annual safety and emissions inspections can improve air quality. Financial assistance is available for residents unable to make needed repairs on vehicles that fail the state emissions test. More than 10,000 North Texans have received assistance through the AirCheck Texas Repair and Replacement Assistance Program. Local public and private organizations in the Dallas-Fort Worth region are leading the way in using alternative fuels and clean technologies. Cities such as Coppell, Dallas, Farmers Branch and Fort Worth include alternative fuel or hybrid technologies in their fleets, and both Dallas Area Rapid Transit and Fort Worth Transit Authority operate buses fueled by natural gas. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has used compressed natural gas, propane and hybrid electric vehicles since 1991. To encourage more local governments to incorporate clean vehicle technologies in their fleets, the North Central Texas Council of Governments is offering approximately $4.2 million in federal dollars to public entities in the region to replace or convert vehicles to cleaner technologies. This funding program provides a way to reduce emissions in the region. June is Clean Vehicle Month, part of Commute Solutions Season in North Texas. From May through October, the North Texas Clean Air Coalition promotes alternatives to drive-alone commuting through advertising, employer outreach, e-mail campaigns, media relations and a Web-based Commuter Challenge. Every month has a different commute solutions theme. - July is Try Transit Month - August is Vanpool/Carpool Month - September is Telecommute Month - October is Employer Recognition Month About the North Clean Air Coalition: The North Texas Clean Air Coalition was formed in 1993 to educate North Texans about air quality and encourage individuals to “do their share for cleaner air.” Members of the NTCAC include the North Central Texas Council of Governments, North Texas Commission, Greater Dallas Chamber, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), The Fort Worth Transportation Authority (the T), the Denton County Transportation Authority, and numerous individuals and businesses. Types of Alternative Fuels Biodiesel: Biodiesel is a domestically produced, renewable fuel that can be manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases. Biodiesel is safe, biodegradable, and reduces serious air pollutants such as particulates, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and air toxics. Blends of 20% biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel (B20) can generally be used in unmodified diesel engines. Electric: Electricity can be used as a transportation fuel to power battery electric and fuel cell vehicles. When used to power electric vehicles, EV, electricity is stored in an energy storage device such as a battery. EV batteries have a limited storage capacity and their electricity must be replenished by plugging the vehicle into an electrical source. Ethanol and ethanol blends: Ethanol is an alcohol-based alternative fuel produced by fermenting and distilling feedstocks such as corn, barley, or wheat. Ethanol is most commonly used to increase octane and improve the emissions quality of gasoline, but can also be blended with gasoline to create E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Vehicles that run on E85 are called flexible fuel vehicles and are offered by several vehicle manufacturers. Hybrid electric motors: Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are continuing to grow in popularity and are now offered by numerous auto manufacturers. HEVs are efficient vehicles that use a small motor and an electric engine to generate the power to drive the vehicle. HEVs are sometimes referred to as alternative fuel vehicles because they utilize electricity to power the vehicle, but are classified as advanced technology vehicles. Hydrogen: Hydrogen has been used effectively in a number of internal combustion engine vehicles as pure hydrogen mixed with natural gas. In addition, hydrogen is used in a growing number of demonstration fuel cell vehicles. Hydrogen and oxygen from air fed into a proton exchange membrane fuel cell "stack" produce enough electricity to power an electric automobile, without producing harmful emissions. Natural gas, compressed or liquid: Natural gas is domestically produced and readily available to end-users through the utility infrastructure. It is also clean burning and produces significantly fewer harmful emissions than reformulated gasoline or diesel when used in natural gas vehicles. In addition, commercially available medium- and heavy-duty natural gas engines have demonstrated over 90% reductions of carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter and more than 50% reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx) relative to commercial diesel engines. Propane: Propane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a popular alternative fuel choice for vehicles because there is already an infrastructure of pipelines, processing facilities, and storage for its efficient distribution. Besides being readily available to the general public, LPG produces fewer vehicle emissions than gasoline. Propane is produced as a by-product of natural gas processing and crude oil refining. Car Care Tips for Improving Air Quality - Worn spark plugs or clogged fuel injectors can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 30%. For a driver that travels only 15,000 miles per year, this can cost an extra $500 for gas during the year. - Improperly inflated tires can decrease fuel efficiency by up to 8%. Over a year's time, based on 15,000 miles per year, this failure can cost an extra $135. - Car maintenance is not only important for the environment, it is an important safety decision. Each year 2,600 deaths and 100,000 disabling injuries occur because of car neglect. - Check the air filter approximately every other oil change. A clean air filter allows the vehicle to perform most efficiently. - The rubber seal around your gas cap can deteriorate, releasing vapor which reacts with air creating ozone pollution. Check and replace the cap if necessary about every three years. - Regularly scheduled vehicle maintenance can easily save you hundreds of dollars per year, add life to your car, and help lower air pollution. May is Bike/Walk/Brownbag Month in North Texas
In North Texas, vehicle emissions are a major source of pollution, contributing an estimated 50 percent of the ozone-forming emissions in the region. Ozone Season is May 1 through October 31, a time when the region has high temperatures and little wind – the recipe for forming ground-level ozone. To make traveling by bicycle more convenient, the Fort Worth Transportation Authority has added 12 new buses to their fleet with increased bicycle capacity. These 40' New Flyers all have three bicycle capacity racks instead of two, adding 50 percent more room for bicycles. Dallas Area Rapid Transit became more bicycle-friendly with a new policy allowing cyclists to take their bicycles on board DART buses, rail and Trinity Railway Express trains at any time of the day when room is available. Several DART train stations offer use of bicycle racks for no charge and rent lockers for additional storage needs. In addition, many employers in the region offer secure bicycle parking, showers and lockers to encourage employees to bicycle or walk to work. In celebration of the League of American Bicyclists’ Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 19 Texas Instruments employees from throughout the Dallas area will convene at the TI corporate gym at 7:30 a.m. for complimentary use of the facility and a group breakfast following their ride to work. The North Central Texas region offers more than 600 miles of inter-connected bicycle and walk trails that can be used as an alternative to driving to work, school or other destinations. An interactive map of existing and future trails can be found at www.nctcog.org/trans/data/bikeweb. Regardless of how one gets to work, the North Central Texas Council of Governments is encouraging residents to forgo lunchtime travel and eat at work instead. The “Forget the Ride, Lunch Inside” campaign is intended to increase air quality awareness while reducing vehicle miles traveled. Participating individuals are asked to sign pledge cards, promising to eat lunch at work and/or take transit or walk to a lunch destination, especially on poor air quality days. In return, they receive a free insulated lunch bag and e-mail alerts before air pollution watch days, instructing them to use their free lunch bags and eat lunch at work. NCTCOG received funding for this program from TXU Power through the North Texas Clean Air Coalition 2006 Community Grant Program. Similar lunchtime programs have proved successful in the region. Last year the City of Fort Worth had 1,080 employees, or 19 percent of its staff, bring sack lunches during air pollution season. May is Bike/Walk/Brownbag Month, part of Commute Solutions Season in North Central Texas. From May through October, the North Texas Clean Air Coalition promotes alternatives to drive-alone commuting through advertising, employer outreach, e-mail campaigns, media relations and a Web-based Commuter Challenge. Every month has a different commute solutions theme: - June is Clean Vehicle Month - July is Try Transit Month - August is Vanpool/Carpool Month - September is Telecommute Month - October is Employer Recognition Month During 2005 Air Pollution Season Commuter Challenge Contest helps reduce traffic, pollution
Alternate commute methods include carpooling, vanpooling, riding transit, telecommuting or staying in for lunch instead of going out to eat. Each time drivers used an alternative commute option instead of driving alone, they could enter the Commuter Challenge. Based on this year’s Commuter Challenge entries, riding public transit was the most popular commute option choice, resulting in 258,526 fewer drive-alone miles. “The nearly half-million miles saved by commuters who participated in the Commuter Challenge this year is an impressive effort to improve air quality in North Texas,” said Brian Boerner, chairman of the North Texas Clean Air Coalition. “Our goal for next year’s Commuter Challenge is to attract even more commuters who want to do their part for cleaner air and want a chance to win great prizes.” To enter the contest, drivers logged onto TryParkingIt.com and entered the alternate commute method they selected and how many miles they saved. Every entry was automatically entered in a random drawing to win prizes such as a week-long trial in a hybrid vehicle like the Toyota Prius, Toyota Highlander and the Lexus 400h as well as restaurant gift certificates, special event passes and the grand prize of two round-trip Southwest Airlines tickets. LaShawn Long-Gidudu won the Southwest Airlines round-trip tickets. She logged a total of 509 saved miles during the Commuter Challenge by riding DART and the Trinity Railway Express. “Using public transportation just makes sense to me. I save money on gas, parking and car insurance; and I don’t have to deal with a lot of traffic problems,” said Long-Gidudu. “I actually get to enjoy my daily commutes.” Air pollution season in North Texas runs from May 1 through October 31. During this time of year, the NTCAC sponsors Commute Solutions Season, a public awareness campaign promoting alternatives to drive-alone commuting that help reduce air pollution and traffic congestion. North Texas Clean Air Coalition rewards employers, individuals for cutting pollution, traffic congestion
“These awards represent a sincere dedication to the reduction of air pollution and traffic congestion in North Texas,” said Brian Boerner, Chairman of the North Texas Clean Air Coalition. “Every participant deserves our thanks for taking the lead in supporting alternatives to the daily work commute.” Texas Instruments and North Texas Health Care Laundry Cooperative Association were honored as Dallas area 2005 Employers of the Year, in the large and small employer categories. The City of Fort Worth and Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce were named 2005 Employers of the Year in the Fort Worth area. Lockheed Martin employee Kathy Luper won the award for the 2005 Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) of the Year in Fort Worth. Ms. Luper has coordinated commuting and flexible scheduling programs for Lockheed’s employees for more than 10 years. Lynn Dunning of North Texas Health Care Laundry Cooperative Association (NTHCLCA) was named 2005 Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) of the Year in Dallas. Mr. Dunning was instrumental in offering Gold DART transit passes to all NTHCLCA employees. The Clean Air Partners Awards recognize employers for encouraging their employees to make cleaner and smarter daily commutes to work. This year’s winners from the Dallas area were Baylor University Medical Center, City of Plano, Fannie Mae, Glasfloss Industries, Greyhound Lines Inc., Radiologix Inc., Rockwall Chamber of Commerce and the Texas Department of Transportation – Dallas District. Fort Worth-area winners were City of North Richland Hills, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Fort Worth Economic Development Corporation, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Office Depot, Project Partners-Consulting and Project Management, Texas Christian University, Texas Department of Transportation-Fort Worth District, Texas Health Resources, U.S. General Service Administration and Witherspoon & Associates. The NTCAC also recognizes successful vanpool programs. State Farm Insurance won the 2005 Vanpool Employer of the Year Award for the Dallas area. Vought Aircraft in Grand Prairie won the Fort Worth area vanpool award. The 2005 Van-tastic Vanpool of the Year Award went to L-3 Communication’s Van Group 23009. The Commuter Challenge encourages commuters to avoid driving alone to work or lunch. Bell Helicopter, Motheral Printing and Texas Instruments all received Top-Ranked Commuter Challenge Employer of 2005 Awards. The NTCAC also announced its 2005 North Texas Best Workplaces for Commuters List at the luncheons: Bell Helicopter, Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Texas, Blockbuster, City of Dallas, Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce, Lena Pope Home, Murray Brown, North Texas Health Care Laundry Cooperative Association, the Northeast Tarrant County Chamber of Commerce, TXU, U.S. Department of Energy and the University of North Texas. This year Texas Instruments was among the Top 20 employers nationwide on the EPA’s Best Workplaces for Commuters List among FORTUNE 500 Companies. Texas Instruments also qualified for the 2004 inaugural North Texas’ Best Workplaces for Commuters List. To be recognized as one of the Best Workplaces for Commuters employers must provide a variety of commuter-related incentives to employees. About North Texas’ Best Workplace for Commuters The North Texas’ Best Workplaces for Commuters program is free and voluntary. The program creates a win-win situation for North Texans, because employees benefit from less expensive and less stressful commutes and communities enjoy reduced traffic congestion and cleaner air. For the complete North Texas’ Best Workplaces for Commuters List and for information on how to apply, visit www.northtexasair.org 2005 North Texas’ Best Workplaces for Commuters List recognizes organizations that provide relief from rising gas prices, traffic congestion
Organizations make the List by providing commuter benefits like free monthly transit passes, vanpools or telecommute programs to employees, allowing them to drive less, save money on gas and vehicle maintenance and improve the region’s air quality. In 2004, 32 organizations were named to the North Texas’ Best Workplaces for Commuters List. Nearly 72,000 employees benefit from the commuter programs offered by the organizations on the 2004 and 2005 Lists. Companies and organizations that qualify for the List must meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Best Workplaces for Commuters National Standard of Excellence. The EPA launched the Best Workplaces for Commuters program in 2002. It was made available to North Texas employers in 2004 by the North Texas Clean Air Coalition. “The average daily commute is costing employees twice as much this year compared to last year due to higher gas prices,” said Brian Boerner, chairman of the North Texas Clean Air Coalition. “The organizations that earn a spot on the North Texas’ Best Workplaces for Commuters List demonstrate a sincere commitment to improving the lives of their employees and the quality of life in our region.” This year’s list includes a diverse group of companies, nonprofit organizations and governmental entities:
To be recognized as one of the Best Workplaces for Commuters employers must provide a variety of benefits to employees:
Grant Cottington is an environmental engineer at Bell Helicopter in Dallas. Cottington's employer subsidizes his monthly transit pass, so he can ride the train to work every day. Cottington says you don't have to be an environmentalist to recognize the benefits of commute alternatives. "It's actually putting money in my pocket," Cottington said. "I'm spending less on gas, putting fewer miles on my car and saving money on oil changes and maintenance. Plus, I'm making a difference by helping reduce the number of cars on the road." About North Texas’ Best Workplaces for Commuters Participation in the North Texas’ Best Workplaces for Commuters program is free and voluntary. Recognition on the list is valuable for employers, their employees and the community. Employers earn the prestige of being part an elite group; employees benefit from less expensive and less stressful commutes; and communities enjoy reduced traffic congestion and cleaner air. For the complete North Texas’ Best Workplaces for Commuters List and for information on how to apply, visit www.northtexasair.org September is Commute Solutions Season’s Telecommute Month
A telecommuting program is one solution. Telecommuting saves employees money on gas, vehicle maintenance and even parking. Plus, it’s also great for employers, because it’s a low-cost benefit they can offer that improves morale and productivity. Studies show that more than 25 percent of the U.S. workforce telecommutes at least one day a week, and many more would like to. According to a study conducted by the Information Technology Association of America, given a choice between a pay raise and an opportunity to telecommute, one-third of workers will choose telecommuting. Fifty-four percent of U.S. employees think telecommuting would improve the quality of their lives. After Euless resident Betsi Chatham had a baby a year ago, she asked her employer about telecommuting. They worked out a schedule that allows Chatham to work from home Tuesdays and Fridays. "I’m happier and more productive," Chatham said. "Because my work is computer-based, I can work from home as easily as I can in the office. Telecommuting is a win-win, because in my case, it doesn’t cost my employer anything, and it really adds to my quality of life." Brian Boerner is chairman of the North Texas Clean Air Coalition and Chatham’s boss. He says offering employers the option to telecommute makes good business sense. “Time with a growing family is a precious and fleeting thing,” he says. “If, as an employer, I can create a situation that meets customer needs, allows employees the chance to work from home and improve air quality, then I’m all for it.” Other employer benefits to a telecommuting program include savings on office space and overhead costs. Absenteeism and sick leave are reduced, and since many employees say they prefer telecommuting, employers may also see improved recruitment and retention. “North Texans are always looking for ways to save money and time,” Boerner said. “Telecommuting is a great way for employers to create those opportunities, while also contributing to cleaner and a healthier environment.” Successful Telecommuting Programs There are many ways for employers to help ensure their telecommuting programs are successful. Here are some things employers can do:
The NTCAC web site (www.northtexasair.org) features a downloadable commute solutions toolkit with comprehensive information on telecommuting and other commuting solutions for North Texas employers. Telecommute Month September is Telecommute Month, part of Commute Solutions Season in North Texas. From May through October, the North Texas Clean Air Coalition promotes alternatives to drive-alone commuting through advertising, employer outreach, e-mail campaigns, media relations and a web-based Commuter Challenge. Every month has a different commute solutions theme. Take the Commuter Challenge In addition, telecommuters are eligible to play the Commuter Challenge, a web-based contest that rewards North Texans who telecommute or use other transit options. Telecommuters simply visit www.TryParkingIt.com and log the miles they saved by telecommuting, which enters them into a drawing for prizes like airline tickets and passes to sporting events or movies. |