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*~ U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Transportation and Air Quality Public Information Initiative
"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).
Research Findings
After a thorough examination of the transportation and air quality consumer literature and conducting the
focus group and pilot site market research in several metropolitan areas, the research findings provided
the rationale and method regarding how to proceed with the development of the initiative.
Problem as identified by stakeholders:
• State and local transportation planners and air quality regulators need assistance to meet their
congestion and environmental objectives under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
(ISTEA) and the Clean Air Act (CAA)
» Transportation and air quality organizations have limited resources to meet these goals at best
» Past public education messages at the state and local level about transportation and air quality issues
have been inconsistent and confusing
About the Public
» Citizens don't understand the link between transportation choices and air quality
» Citizens as transportation consumers are largely unaware of the range of alternatives to solo driving
which exist and are available in their community
• Air quality and transportation are not typically high priority issues for citizens
• Citizens feel that the government and indnstry should share responsibility for improving air quality
and congestion
Solutions identified by literature and market research
* Transportation and air quality stakeholders have identified a need to educate citizens regarding the
impact of individual transportation choices on air quality
« Organizations would greatly benefit from sharing expertise, messages, and tools because significant
duplication of effort exists in attempts to educate citizens
* A dual-tier public education effort allows
personal interaction with the target audience at the local level
broader dissemination of messages
establishes transportation and air quality issue as a national priority
* Develop messages relating to air quality and mobility that
have a credible rationale
stress the voluntary aspect of individual action
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are encouraging — positive in tone and substance
link transportation choices and air quality to lifestyle to encourage options to solo driving
suggest "do-able" or convenient options
speak to both consumer and organizations
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