Clayton County’s bus service, C-TRAN, is scheduled to end March 31. This is a major hit to riders who rely on this service for their commute to work. Luckily, there are other options. The Clean Air Campaign wants to help make the transition to a new commute as seamless as possible for displaced C-TRAN commuters.

If you currently ride C-TRAN to work, there are some other commute options in your area that are worth investigating, such as riding an Xpress bus or joining or starting a vanpool or carpool. RideSmart can help match you with other commuters who live and work near you. If you want to carpool with someone who lives near you but works in a different area, you could try carpooling to the nearest MARTA station.

To learn more about your options and find out ways you may be able to offset the cost of your new commute, contact us by calling 1-877-CLEANAIR or e-mailing Daniel Jessee at DJessee@CleanAirCampaign.org. We’re here to help.

Calling all employers: sign up for the Alternative Work Arrangement Webinar on March 25. It’s our first Webinar of the year and will teach you how your company can be successful with compressed work weeks and telework programs.

Many of you have attended The Clean Air Campaign’s Lunch and Learn events in past years, but for 2010, we’re shaking things up a bit. First, say goodbye to the name Lunch and Learn. This program will now be called the Employer Program Education Series. The focus is on helping employers get the most out of their commute options programs. An additional change this year will be the format of this series. To make Clean Air Campaign events more congruent with what we represent – less traffic and cleaner air – we’ll be hosting most of them online as Webinars. In many cases, you’ll no longer need to drive to an event; we’ll come to you via your computer. This will save you time, help keep pollution out of the air we breathe and even make it possible for you to access our presentations online at a later date, whether you missed them the first time or want to watch again. So what are you waiting for? Sign up today for our first Webinar of the year!

Hats off to Harold Reheis, a founding father of The Clean Air Campaign and former chairman, who yesterday officially rolled off The Clean Air Campaign's Board of Directors after some 15 years of service.

Before the mission became a movement centered on less traffic and cleaner air, Reheis remembers working in the mid-90s "just to understand how Atlanta could meet tighter standards" for ground-level ozone. "We focused on wringing everything we could out of stationary sources," he explained, referring to the emissions that come from fixed objects like smokestacks. "We realized we had to work at everything in order to reach the goal."

According to Reheis, the best experiment to show how vehicle traffic and air quality are so closely linked happened when the Olympics came to metro Atlanta in the summer of 1996. It was during this two-week stretch that two important situations were recorded:

1. The Georgia DOT found traffic congestion was held at bay by area employers who led the charge to help their employees remain productive without having to drive in to worksites at rush hour

2. The Georgia EPD found that air quality was noticeably improved during this window, with no violations of the ground-level ozone standard while the Olympic torch was lit

Harold Reheis, a founding member of The Clean Air Campaign and former chairman of the Board of Directors, receives a plaque commemorating his 15 years of service.

In his role as both a regulator with the Georgia EPD and an architect of The Clean Air Campaign, Reheis expressed to his colleagues on the Board of Directors the significance of creating a non-regulatory organization, focused on voluntary actions, to cause change. "The balance of regulatory controls and voluntary commute options programs showed that a plan could be drafted and acted on to meet air quality standards," Reheis said. "I'm excited about where we've been and what we've achieved. We need to keep working to identify more ways to solve the problem."

On behalf of the entire organization and all the people you've influenced in your work for less traffic and cleaner air, thanks, Harold, for the passion and the vision you brought to improve our quality of life.

Citing widespread broadband connectivity and a robust infrastructure, Forbes magazine again ranked the metro Atlanta region among the "most wired" in the U.S. Atlanta held firm at #2 for the second straight year, a strong showing in a region that is ripe for telework programs. But what is surprising is which city ranked ahead of Atlanta on this list. Hint: it's not in the Silicon Valley.

With a punishing commute that landed Atlanta on another Forbes list recently for all the wrong reasons, it's great that the region is getting recognition for the availability of broadband Internet that helps employees and employers alike boost productivity, save on overhead and commuting costs and get out of traffic. The availability of the Georgia Telework Tax Credit and consulting services provided at no cost by The Clean Air Campaign is icing on the cake for employers. We just need more employers to get on board.

Budget shortfalls across the state have put extreme pressure on transit agencies everywhere to juggle operating costs, plan for service cuts and go back to the drawing board on finding sustainable funding sources.

In metro Atlanta next week, MARTA is working to gather public opinion on how to navigate through some tough financial choices and deliver service for commuters. If you are among the tens of thousands of patrons who commute in to work via MARTA each week, consider attending one of these community forums to make your voice heard.

We may be waxing a little poetic here with Valentine's Day upon us, but a vanpool is a thing of beauty.

On the outside, a shiny, handsome exterior that turns heads when it zips past traffic in the HOV lane. And on the inside, a warm and cheerful vibe that rings true. Vanpoolers possess an overwhelming sense of community, with relationships built one mile at a time on the shared journey to work. The group chemistry of any vanpool can accommodate riders who want to laugh, talk shop, hammer out a Sudoku puzzle ... or just tune out.

There are more than 350 vanpools on the roads across Georgia. And while vanpool commuters enjoy the camaraderie, they enjoy saving money on commute costs and reducing commuting stress just as much. Could there be a more perfect relationship between commuters and their travel mode of choice? Watch our latest video project and decide for yourself. Turns out that when it comes to vanpool commuting, getting there really IS half the fun.

Has vanpooling caught your eye? There are resources available from The Clean Air Campaign and its partners to help interested commuters get into vanpooling, from special financial subsidies of up to $300 to assistance with finding riders to fill seats. And coming soon, your employer may be offering the opportunity to ride in a vanpool on a trial basis -- you know, in case you're not ready for a committed relationship. Call us sometime ;)

Major developments on the air quality front have been a hot topic over the past week, as the US Environmental Protection Agency announced proposed new revisions to a federal air quality standard designed to protect the public from excessive exposure to ground-level ozone. The review, which is part of the Clean Air Act, is happening more than a year ahead of schedule. So, how should we take this news in Georgia, where roughly one in five counties fails to meet the current standard?

First, there are many things going right in Georgia with respect to ground-level ozone and air quality. Last year, metro Atlanta registered no Code Red days (unhealthy for all) during what was an uncharacteristically mild smog season. And we have not seen a Code Purple day (hazardous) in several years. A combination of factors have driven this positive change in our state, like scrubbers at coal-fired power plants, special blend gasoline that emits less pollution, commute options programs like the ones offered by The Clean Air Campaign and its partners, more efficient vehicles, etc.

Second, what is clear is that the more research that becomes available from the health and science communities, the stronger the connection between exposure to even small amounts of ground-level ozone and serious public health hazards. The EPA reviewed some 1,700 scientific studies prior to introducing the most recent standard change in March 2008, which ratcheted the threshold down. Today, the discussion around the latest proposed revision is that even more stringent regulations are needed to protect public health.

While it's too soon in the process to know precisely where the new threshold will fall, what is certain is that more Georgia employers, municipalities, commuters and schools will be called upon to help through voluntary actions (driving less and reducing unnecessary idling, for example). There are no quick fixes to meet the current standard, let alone a more stringent standard down the road -- especially in a state where population growth continues to place heavy demand on energy and transportation output. But Georgia is in better position than many other states that will face the challenge of meeting stricter standards because we have programs, incentives and support -- unique to Georgia and already up and running in major metropolitan areas -- that can point us in the right direction.

Happy New Year and welcome to the next decade. Coming off an economic meltdown in 2009 on par with the Great Depression, it has been a lean year for good news in Georgia. Let’s gear up for a fresh start.

What's in store for 2010 on the transportation and air quality front? Lots of unfinished business on transportation, and what will likely be new and tougher regulations on air quality, including first-ever regulations on greenhouse gas emissions.

Consider this a preview of coming attractions of what we're watching for in policymaking circles over the next 12 months:

Georgia Transportation Funding
Georgia policymakers have been stuck in what seems like an endless loop of discussion on how to fund transportation in our state without ever moving to a conclusion. A lot has been said on the subject but not much has gotten done. Last session there were significant changes made within GDOT, and its new Planning Director just released this report as a vision for transportation infrastructure across the state for the next 2-3 three decades. The report leverages the work of McKinsey last year and its IT3 findings last year. It’s long (77 pp), but worth a read, at least the Executive Summary.

There are lots of ideas on the table to get Georgia moving: a statewide master list of projects and a commitment to transit, but these projects need funding in order to become real. And the State has been under-investing on transportation for decades, compared to its peers. As the report points out, at current levels of funding, “over the next 20 years, congestion costs across all of Georgia’s metro areas will increase dramatically, and many transit services will be reduced or eliminated due to lack of operating funds. In metro Atlanta, congestion costs per person will double.”

What is needed is new funding, “equivalent to a 1 percent sales tax statewide, in addition to a robust approach to tolls.” Will this be the year that transportation funding legislation clears the gauntlet and the voters will be allowed to decide the issue? We’ll see. For many, “election year” and “new taxes” don’t necessarily go together.

Federal Transportation Funding Reauthorization
The federal funding mechanism for how we fund transportation has been broken for years. The Federal Highway Trust fund is spitting foam, paying out more than it is taking in with gas tax revenues – hardly a winning combination. This funding was scheduled to be reexamined this past fall, but given all the lofty issues in play in Washington, Congress applied a few band-aids and put it on the shelf until 2010. When it is revisited, what will the next chapter in our nation's transportation policy look like? How do we fund transportation beyond the motor fuel tax? Mileage-based fees? How can we wring more efficiency out of the systems we already have?

Air Quality Standards … the Sequel
Something noteworthy happened last summer: the EPA reopened review of federal air quality standards for ground-level ozone (set in early-2008) years ahead of schedule. Several areas in Georgia failed to meet the standard before it was placed on hold, which has bought more time to make improvements. A new standard will be set by the feds, rooted in health and science studies about the effects of ground-level ozone exposure on public welfare. My money is on the new standard being tougher than the previous one. The proposal comes out in the next couple of weeks, and the EPA can expect lots of comments and lawsuits. Meanwhile, air quality standards for an unprecedented number of other pollutants are now in the process of being tightened (sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, lead, toxics). But the real game changer is the fact that EPA is poised to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from millions of stationary and mobile sources never before regulated … potentially the most sweeping environmental regulation in history.

2010 holds the promise of a year of big changes that affect the future course on transportation and air quality. Much more to come…

We talk often in this space about collaboration and the many partnerships that exist between The Clean Air Campaign and the state of Georgia. Our efforts to promote less traffic and cleaner air are done in concert with agencies like the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority.

And at times, the circle of collaboration gets wider, bringing more groups together in order to help serve the public. This was the case earlier this year, when the state legislature passed HB160, known as the “SuperSpeeder Law.” The law is designed to get tough on high-risk drivers who endanger other motorists and ignore warnings to slow down. Fees collected under the “SuperSpeeder Law,” which goes into effect January 1, 2010, will help fund Georgia’s trauma care hospital system where, according to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, some sixty-percent of all trauma care admissions are crash-related. Read more about the Super Speeder Law and the threshold for speeding fines here.

Of course, the lead message from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety that goes with the “SuperSpeeder Law” is the financial “triple whammy” of a citation, an additional fee and the threat of losing driving privileges for the lead-footed.

But there is also an environmental case we should think about, and a productivity case for slowing down. It is well documented that driving a car at speeds above 70 and 80mph and aggressively accelerating wastes fuel and burns fuel more rapidly, creating higher concentrations of air pollution. It is also clear that traffic accidents stemming from aggressive driving and speeding can wreak havoc on the commute to and from work, especially when these accidents occur during rush hour. Commuters can’t afford to speed … and the state can’t afford to deal with more smog and gridlock, let alone accident victims.

So, take note of the “SuperSpeeder Law” that goes into effect January 1. If your safety and the safety of others on the road isn’t enough motivation to ease off the gas pedal, consider the financial and environmental consequences of driving too fast.

It goes without saying that The Clean Air Campaign’s staff works hard to serve Georgia employers, commuters and schools. Like any job, the satisfaction you get out of it is directly related to the effort you put into it. And in many ways for our team, the motivation for less traffic and cleaner air comes from the fun activities that are made more enjoyable when we can have clearer skies under which to play.

Mark Poole, a Commuter Services Coordinator with just over two years of service at The Clean Air Campaign, gets to enjoy the respiratory fruits of his labor out on the fields almost every weekend with his Ultimate Frisbee team, Chain Lightning. This fall, Mark’s team won the national title at the 2009 Ultimate Players’ Association Championships. We caught up with Mark to learn more about his exploits on the field and why he’s motivated to work for less traffic and cleaner air.

Mark Poole proudly presents the national championship trophy his team, Chain Lightning, won at the 2009 Ultimate Players’ Association Championship tournament.

Q: How did you become interested in Ultimate Frisbee?

A: I got turned on to it in college after hearing about it from one of my professors, who played on a travel team. I’ve been playing for about five years and never imagined I’d get a chance to compete at a championship level. I just love playing the game and where it has taken me.

Q: How do you play Ultimate Frisbee?

A: We play seven on seven on a field with two end zones. The object is to score by passing the disc into the end zone and there are offensive and defensive teams, which switch back and forth based on possession. The game is non-contact and it’s self-officiated. Depending on the game setup and tournament rules, the first team to score 15 points wins.

Q: What’s the pace of the game and the overall vibe?

A: I play in a competitive men’s league, but there are also recreational leagues and co-ed leagues all over the world. We always strive to have a friendly competition. The fact that games are self-officiated means we are committed to good sportsmanship. It’s not uncommon to share a beer with our competition after a game.

Q: As an outdoor sport, what do you enjoy about Ultimate Frisbee?

A: Being active and playing outside is very important to me. The season runs from May to November. Coincidentally, that’s almost in line with Smog Season in Georgia. So of course I want to have clean air to breathe in. It’s a great experience to be able to run around under blue skies and soak in the sunshine. But it can also be fulfilling to play in other weather conditions because it adds variety.

Q: How much work goes into competing on an Ultimate Frisbee squad?

A: I run and train at the track every week. My team practices almost every weekend for a few hours on Saturday and Sunday. We put a lot of work into our game. We’ve got 26 guys on our team. Some are serious. Some are laid back. We always have fun, but we know how to get focused and win.

Q: Besides air, what goes into the physics of throwing a Frisbee?

A: Spin keeps a Frisbee aloft. The more spin, the farther, flatter and faster the disc will travel. It takes a good snap of the wrist to get spin. And there are different angles you need to choose when you’re passing to teammates across the field.

Q: Where has Chain Lightning competed?

A: It’s amazing where we’ve traveled to play against other teams in tournaments around the country. We’ve been to Seattle, Santa Cruz, Washington D.C., Baton Rouge, Austin, Florida and all over the Southeast.

Q: And most recently you were in Sarasota, FL competing at the nationals. What was that like?

A: We represented the Southeast region at the national championships, which is a four-day tournament. We went in as the #2 seed and faced off against the #1 seed from San Francisco in the finals. The weather was uncharacteristically hot for Florida in late-October and we were thoroughly tired from all the games leading up to the finals. But we were playing great defense the whole tournament and knew we could stand up to them with aggressive defensive play. Playing in a championship game was such an adrenaline rush. We were amped up to have made it so far. Chain Lightning is the first champion in history to come out of the Southeast.

Q: Congrats on taking home the trophy. What’s the next big quest for Chain Lightning?

A: We’ll compete in July 2010 at the World Ultimate Club Championships in Prague, Czech Republic.

Q: Where can Georgians interested in learning about Ultimate Frisbee learn more?

A: Check out the Ultimate Players Association to learn more about the sport and visit Atlanta Flying Disc Club to get league info.

Congrats to Mark and his team for their big win. What do you do you like to do outdoors – now or in any season – that gets you motivated to protect the air we breathe?