U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency £ Transportation and Air Quality Public Information Initiative g "It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air" \ Initiative Goal To support and facilitate state and local governments' efforts to meet their congestion and air quality goals under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) and the Clean Air Act (CAA). National Coalition - Summary The Federal agencies are developing a National Coalition made up of a broad spectrum of public and private organizations to pursue common objectives and strategies that will ultimately reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality, as well as the quality of life and health of consumers affected by transportation. The Coalition will establish support for core transportation/air quality messages and ensure long term sustainability of the initiative. A Design Team was charged with designing a framework for the National coalition. This team also identified an Executive Leadership Committee that would provide leadership to members of the National Coalition. The Design Team was comprised of the following organizations: • American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials » American Automobile Association • American Highway Users Alliance • American Lung Association • American Public Transit Association • Association for Commuter Transportation • Association of International Auto Manufacturers • Bicycle Federation of America • Edison Electric Institute Federal Partners (DOT and EPA) • Ford Motor Company » National Association of Regional Councils • Society of Automotive Engineers • State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators/Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials Benefits/Advantages The primary benefit to members of the National Coalition will be the opportunity to address transportation and air quality issues under the auspices of, and in cooperation with, the federal government. Other benefits include: * Networking and information exchange « Ability to leverage resources • Access to current research * Message consistency and reinforcement » Increased reach and frequency of messages to constituents ------- • Enhanced image as environmental leaders Next Steps Recruitment of Executive Leadership Committee will be complete by early Spring of 1999. This committee will be tasked with developing the mission statement and vision statement for the National Coalition. The Executive Leadership Committee and the Federal Partners will begin recruiting members for the National Coalition and the first full meeting of the National Coalition is scheduled for spring of 2000. For additional information contact: Patrice Thornton Kathy Daniel Abbe Marner U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Federal Highway Administration " Federal Transit Administration Office of Mobile Sources Office of Environment and Planning Office of Planning (313)668-4329 (202)366-6276 (202)366-0096 thornton.patrice@epa.gov kathleen.daniel@ftiwa.dot.gov abbe,marner@ fta.dot.gov ------- |