On this Valentine's Day, and every day, our hearts beat true for less traffic and cleaner air.  So, pucker up and embrace the clean commuting love in this latest edition of Merging Lanes.

Romantic Routes: Georgia Ranks High on Roads with Amorous Names

Who knew?  Just in time for Valentine’s Day, an entertaining report from a maker of GPS devices reveals that some of the most “romantic” roads in the U.S. are found right here in the Peach State.  Georgia boasts 70 miles of roads with amorous names that include phrases like “Darling” or “Rose” or “Heart” in them.  Perhaps just the inspiration you need to fall in love with a commute alternative, like this cute couple.

Lane ends 2,000 feet.

 
Thinking Big for Cleaner Air: Article Suggests Smog Solutions

Great article from National Geographic that describes the causes of air pollution and offers a handful of “big picture” ideas to tackle the problem.  While the intro concentrates on the state of the air in Los Angeles, there are many parallels to the challenges we’re facing in Georgia, from population growth to increasing pressure on the existing transportation network.  Among the many spot-on suggestions?  Increasing public awareness when air quality is unhealthy.  The Clean Air Campaign has you covered with Smog Alerts.  More than 12,000 Georgians are signed up to receive them.  Are you?

Lane ends 1,000 feet.

 
Purchasing Power of a Penny: ATL Transportation Referendum Projections Spell Out Potential Benefits

The Atlanta Regional Commission recently released a raft of projections about the economic and quality of life benefits that the 150+ projects on the docket for Atlanta could yield.  Among the notable forecasts: the total $8 billion list could yield a 4:1 return on investment, and the environmental benefits derived from less vehicle idling in traffic could yield air quality improvements roughly equal to 72,000 fewer tailpipes on the road.  Still puzzling through the data, but it's clear this information will shape the way in which this referendum is presented to voters.

Lane ends 500 feet.

 
New Twist on Traffic Fate: Psychic Predicts Your Commute

Stalled out vehicle on the Downtown Connector.  Heavy volume at I-575.  Sunshine slowdown on I-20.  Sometimes, our collective rush hour commuting fate can feel like a roll of the dice.  And more commuters are embracing tools like 511 and Georgia NaviGAtor to help dodge traffic.  But ABC news recently reported on a more … um, celestial … method some folks are using to predict the outcome of their commute.  With tarot cards at the ready, could the traffic psychic have answers about your next trip?

Merge.

The Clean Air Campaign recently released its inaugural list of Platinum Partners, recognizing employers and property managers whose employees and tenants use alternatives to driving alone for at least 20 percent of their commute trips. The initial list consists of 130 metro Atlanta and Georgia employers and property managers, including IBM. The Clean Air Campaign salutes IBM and all of the Platinum Partners achieving success in reducing traffic congestion and improving the quality of the air we breathe. When it comes to less traffic and cleaner air, these organizations are “In Good Company”. To view the complete list, click here.

Carol Warrick (L) receives a Platinum Partnership certificate from The Clean Air Campaign’s Raina Sayer (R), recognizing IBM’s successful commute options program that has kept 776 tons of pollution out of the air since 2002.

National Weatherperson's Day, also known as National Weatherman's Day, is a holiday observed on February 5 primarily in the United States. It recognizes individuals in the fields of meteorology, weather forecasting and broadcast meteorology - including the folks who watch over the quality of the air we breathe - as well as volunteer storm spotters and observers. National Weatherperson's Day is observed on the birthday of John Jeffries, one of the United States' first weather observers who took daily measurements from 1774 to 1816.

At the age of four, I made the decision to become a meteorologist and I have not looked back since. Growing up and seeing our local meteorologist cover severe weather on television was something that just fascinated me.  Still does.  Not only did I enjoy hearing about weather changes and formations, I also enjoyed seeing how meteorologists prepared people for harsh weather.  Now that I am a meteorologist, I take great pride in being able to do the same.

Although I have looked up to many meteorologists over the years, I would say that my biggest role model was James Spann, the chief meteorologist at the ABC affiliate (ABC 33/40) in Birmingham.  He always seemed to pave the way for new technology in the industry.  Plus, he was a unique storyteller and passionate about his job. Witnessing his balance between community involvement, school visits and severe weather coverage provided me with a great model for my own career.

Being a meteorologist provides me quite a few perks, however the biggest perk is being able to go to work each day and not feel like I’m at work.  I’m doing something that I enjoy and have been passionate about for years.  Over the course of my seven year career, I would say that my most memorable experience was my first day on air when I was a senior in college working at the ABC affiliate (WTOK) in Meridian, Mississippi.  Hurricane Ivan made landfall, and our weather team was involved in continuous coverage of the storm for over 12 hours.  It was quite a way to break into the business!

Since that time, I’ve seen firsthand the devastation that severe weather events can place on communities.  Unfortunately, we can only do so much on TV when we cover these situations, so we encourage individuals to take it upon themselves to stay informed, and we strive to ensure that the public is weather-aware.

Our weather team informs our audience on air quality issues by displaying the air quality index when we foresee bad air days.  This allows residents to take action to improve the air and protect themselves.  In Columbus, we deal with air quality issues occasionally, especially during the summer months.  It’s important for us to let people know about air quality concerns outside of our area since many of our residents travel to cities like Birmingham and Atlanta, which often see worse conditions than we do.

Aside from weather-related events, it’s nice to be able promote positive things like school contests, such as The Clean Air Campaign’s Young Lungs at Work Art Competition, which helps educate kids about pollution and how it affects the air we breathe.  By spreading the word in our local community, we can help people understand the importance of turning off engines to idling cars and school buses in pick-up lanes at school.

I'm happy to say that for the first time in awhile I won’t be at work on Weatherperson’s Day this Sunday, so I’ll likely celebrate it by enjoying a day off and watching the Super Bowl. Happy Weatherperson’s Day to all my peers!

Derek Kinkade is the chief meteorologist for 9 ABC/WTVM in Columbus.

National Weatherperson's Day, also known as National Weatherman's Day, is a holiday observed on February 5 primarily in the United States. It recognizes individuals in the fields of meteorology, weather forecasting and broadcast meteorology - including the folks who watch over the quality of the air we breathe - as well as volunteer storm spotters and observers. National Weatherperson's Day is observed on the birthday of John Jeffries, one of the United States' first weather observers who took daily measurements from 1774 to 1816.

My fascination, passion, excitement (and possible obsession) with all things weather began when I was in my mother’s womb. Since I was a youngster, I remember loving the smell of rain, gazing at the different sizes and shapes of clouds and touching and tasting white snow…okay, maybe I am obsessed.  However, I am truly blessed to have been able to turn this lifelong passion into a rewarding career as a meteorologist.

It’s often said that people are most fearful of what they don’t understand.  There was a time in my life when the deep growls of thunder and the sound of a tornado siren would send chills up my spine. But as I grew older, fueled by my passion and curiosity, I delved deeper and deeper into understanding the physical processes of our atmosphere. Though we have a good handle on the principles and properties of our atmosphere, there is still plenty of room for growth and further research to figure out exactly how different elements of our environment marry to create the weather we experience.

Being a meteorologist on television comes with a hefty responsibility. People look to meteorologists for a variety of things, from insight into significant earth science events to accurate forecasting on the day of a big outdoor weekend to, most importantly, guidance during severe weather.

My primary responsibility as a meteorologist on television is to protect the lives and property of my viewers. Before you head out the door and hit the roads, you need to know what kind of weather to expect so you are ready for your commute to and from work. It’s my goal to help you plan and prepare for your day.

Part of that includes distributing Smog Alerts when air quality reaches hazardous levels for groups of people. Thankfully that does not happen too often in my part of the state, and I support our friends at The Clean Air Campaign to keep it that way. They do a great job promoting the use of commute alternatives throughout Georgia so you can enjoy cleaner air and less traffic.

The field of meteorology is continuously evolving. Though I suppose the average person thinks of a meteorologist as the guy on the local news, there are actually many opportunities in weather forecasting outside of television, including both the private and government sectors.

If weather is your passion, pursue it!  The sky is the limit!

Michael Estime is the chief meteorologist for 41 NBC / WMGT-TV in Macon, Ga.