^SmartWay U.S. Environmental Protection Agency + Featured Partner: North Central Texas Council of Governments North Central Texas Council of Governments ABOUT NCTCOG The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is a voluntary association of cities, counties, school districts and special districts. This is a voluntary, cooperative venture that is intended to help local governments improve their capability to serve their citizens by defining regional issues, problems and opportunities; by setting priorities and devising policies, plans and programs to deal with them and by achieving efficient and effective action on area wide matters through communication, coordination and cooperation. NCTCOG strives to improve air quaLity in the region by exploring future projects and maintaining and securing funding for initiatives. NCTCOG also collaborates with the private sector in the region to reduce emissions from transportation. More information can be found at www.nctcog.org/SmartWay Jason Brown, PrincipalAir Quality Planner, can be contacted by phone at 817-704-2514 or by email at jbrown@nctcog.org NCTCOG is committed to improving air quaLity in the Dallas-Fort Worth region and educating the public on the great opportunities that are available by becoming a SmartWay Partner — Chris KLaus, Senior Program Manager, Transportation Department, North Central Texas Council, of Governments WHY SMARTWAY? Due to the significant freight industry presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area, NCTCOG realized that partnering with SmartWay as an Affiliate would be an opportunity to join forces and help improve air quaLity in the region. SmartWay and NCTCOG have a shared vision of improving air quality, and NCTCOG staff have been incorporating SmartWay-verified technology into its programs, as well as in other areas, since 2006. SmartWay's solutions-oriented approach helps reduce fuel consumption and increase energy security, and also reduces ozone precursors that work to help the region obtain attainment. NCTCOG sees the SmartWay partnership as a win-win for both NCTCOG as the Metropolitan Planning Organization in charge with improving air quality, and our private sector collaborators who are focused on business' bottom line and sustainability. Since NCTCOG first partnered with SmartWay in 2006, the organization has found a variety of ways to engage with the freight industry as well as the individual consumer about the financial and environmental benefits of using EPA-verified SmartWay technologies. NCTCOG has developed innovative ways to incorporate SmartWay initiatives into air quality programs. In the past year, staff developed the Saving Money and Reducing Truck Emissions (SMARTE) program, which is committed to providing local trucking companies and independent trucking drivers in the region information about fuel saving and emission reduction technologies verified by EPA. Staff conducts outreach in the North Texas region to help educate companies about the positive payback in investing in technologies such as SmartWay-designated tractors and trailers, aerodynamic equipment, low-rolling resistance tires, idle reduction devices, and other fleet improvements. Through this outreach, staff have been notified of sales of auxiliary power unit (APU) devices from participating aftermarket retailers in the region. NCTCOG is devoted to growing this program, and will continue to build relationships with the region's freight industry. EPA-420-F-21-014 | January 20211 SmartWay Transport Partnership | epa.gov/smartway (continued) ------- Featured Partner: North Central Texas Council of Governments (continued) HOW NCTCOG SUPPORTS SMARTWAY NCTCOG plays a vital role in the community, and has collaborated with a variety of different entities: Local colleges approached NCTCOG to give presentations to Commercial Driver's License (CDL) classes about SmartWay verified technologies. NCTCOG provided Cedar Valley College an online driver training program developed jointly by Natural Resources Canada and U.S. EPA SmartWay to include in its CDL curriculum. This innovative partnership with local colleges has been well-received. Staff collaborates with the Regional. Freight Advisory Committee (RFAC) to promote and conduct outreach on SmartWay. RFAC is composed of representatives from a variety of freight sectors in the DFW area, including rail, trucking, logistics, freight associations, and representatives of the Texas Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration. During quarterly meetings, staff requested that many of the attending trucking companies join SmartWay and promote strategies with their drivers. NCTCOG also ensures that emissions-reducing principles and goals are integrated into discussion as appropriate. NCTCOG houses the DFW Clean Cities CoaLition (DFWCC), the local chapter of the Department of Energy Clean Cities program. Staff is able to integrate data about use of EPA-verified SmartWay technology into Clean Cities reports sent to the Department of Energy, which helps document petroleum displacement due to NCTCOG efforts. In the past year, NCTCOG has been able to grow the AirCheckTexas Drive a Clean Machine Program for the DFW area. This program helps vehicle owners comply with vehicle emissions standards by offering financial incentives to repair or replace vehicles. NCTCOG leverages this opportunity to educate the public about SmartWay-certified passenger vehicles. WHAT'S NEXT? NCTCOG will continue its efforts in supporting the mission and goals of SmartWay. The SMARTE program has potential for further growth in the region, as well as the possibility of including information about fuel saving operational strategies recommended by SmartWay. NCTCOG, partnering with other entities, plans a study of mobile emissions at static weigh in stations. This study will help NCTCOG understand the positive impacts of implementing weigh-in-motion technologies that will reduce idling and congestion at these locations and will decrease the mobile emissions from this source. In the future, NCTCOG will continue to set up presentations at CDL schools in the region to educate drivers about the benefits of EPA-verified SmartWay technologies. RESULTS NCTCOG successes are evident in a variety of ways. In the past year, NCTCOG reported to the Department of Energy 23,255,172 gallons of displaced petroleum in the DFW region as a result of SmartWay projects. Additionally, NCTCOG has been invited to speak at fleet-oriented events, and values this opportunity as the success of the industry buying into the message about the positive impacts of EPA-verified SmartWay technologies. The SMARTE program has also been very successful. SMARTE outreach activities resulted in an increase in APU sales in the area. NCTCOG highlights its accomplishments in order to educate the general public about EPA-verified SmartWay technologies. Please visit the SmartWay website at www.epa.gov/smartway for more information about our Partners. ^vSmartWay U.S. Environmental Protection Agency^ ------- |