Fifteen years ago, all eyes were on Atlanta as Muhammad Ali carried the Olympic Torch to its final destination during the 1996 Olympic Games. Years of planning and preparation culminated in two weeks of sporting and cultural events as Atlanta welcomed thousands of athletes, international reporters and millions of visitors from around the world. In an effort to put its best foot forward, the region’s business, civic, environmental and political leaders endeavored to reduce traffic congestion on the roads by encouraging employers to let their employees work from home, carpool or take transit instead of driving alone to work.
The success of these voluntary efforts resulted in less commuter traffic and air pollution around the region, and proved to be a defining moment for The Clean Air Campaign, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Today, Georgia commuters, employers and schools have access to more resources and programs that encourage the use of alternatives to driving alone. These initiatives have become part of a statewide strategic approach to improve mobility and air quality, bringing public sector and private sector interests together. Each day these programs eliminate 1.4 million miles of vehicle travel and keep 700 tons of pollution out of the air we breathe.
The Clean Air Campaign, along with its associate organizations, currently partners with more than 1,600 employers to create custom commute options programs that improve employee productivity and annually helps thousands of commuters find commute alternatives that work for them. It is evident that these programs are working. According to the 2010 Metro Atlanta Regional Commuter Survey, on any given workday approximately 400,000 commuters in the region currently use alternatives to driving alone
The Clean Air Campaign also protects public health by distributing Smog Alerts, which inform citizens when air quality is expected to reach unhealthy levels. The Clean Air Schools education program, created in 2004 to help school communities address traffic and air quality challenges, has grown to serve more than 300 schools across the state.
“The same approach used during the 1996 Olympics to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality continues today,” said Brian Carr, director of communications for The Clean Air Campaign. “As a result, air quality in Georgia has improved over the past 15 years. More people are connecting the dots between traffic, air quality and meaningful actions they can take, which becomes more important as Georgia continues to grow.”
About The Clean Air Campaign
The Clean Air Campaign is a not-for-profit organization that works in partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation and Georgia’s employers, commuters and schools to encourage actions that result in less traffic congestion and better air quality. To accomplish this goal, The Clean Air Campaign, along with its associate organizations, partners with more than 1,600 employers to create custom commute options programs; and annually helps thousands of commuters find commute alternatives that work for them, providing financial incentives to get them started. The Clean Air Campaign also protects public health by distributing Smog Alerts and empowers students, parents and teachers to play a positive role in reducing traffic and cleaning the air through a multi-faceted education program reaching elementary, middle and high schools.
Each day, these programs reduce 1.4 million miles of vehicle travel and keep 700 tons of pollution out of the air we breathe.