Posts Tagged ‘air quality’

ACC Students to Ride Capital Metro Free

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

Austin Community College

Austin Community College

ACC Students to Ride Capital Metro Free

Transit Authority partners with college on new Green Pass program October 28, 2009

  • Beginning next year, Austin Community College students, faculty and staff will be able to ride Capital Metro services for free through the new Green Pass program.
  • The Capital Metro Board of Directors approved the new pilot program this afternoon at its regular meeting. The ACC Board of Trustees approved the program on Oct. 5.
  • Under the terms of the agreement, ACC will pay a discounted rate for each trip on bus and rail services. ACC is funding the program through its sustainability fee included in tuition.
  • Eligible ACC riders that are MetroAccess qualified will also have free access to paratransit service. Capital Metro will recover the full fare from ACC for MetroAccess trips.
  • The new passes become effective January 5 to students, faculty and staff for use during the 2010 spring semester.
  • Riders will be required to swipe their Green Pass in the farebox and present their ACC issued ID when boarding Capital Metro buses.
  • Capital Metro will track the ridership of Green Pass riders, which will be useful in determining the success of the program.
  • The Green Pass program is intended to reduce parking congestion around ACC campuses, increase ridership and improve air quality.
  • For more information on the program, visit the ACC web site.

Read more…

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Both Roads and Transit

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

Rush-hour traffic at Sixth and Lamar, looking eastward Courtesy of the Austin Transportation Department

Rush-hour traffic at Sixth and Lamar, looking eastward Courtesy of the Austin Transportation Department

Both Roads and Transit

Counting on traffic fixes

BY KATHERINE GREGOR

“Reduce driver frustration.” While the city Transportation Department‘s new Austin Mobility Program has other noble goals – faster commutes, economic vitality, improved air quality, climate remediation – the frustration factor strikes everybody. So over the past month, the relatively new department and its director, Rob Spillar, have begun rolling out a program to make Austin driving less of a headache. It includes three strands:

1) a Downtown circulation study;

2) a Strategic Mobility Plan, for which the city is seeking a consultant team; and

3) an Urban Rail Program, for which it’s already partnering with outside firms on the initial engineering, design, environmental work, and cost estimating required to prepare for a November 2010 transportation bond referendum.

Read more…

via Austin Chronicle

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Some fear EPA ozone restrictions could hinder local business, economy; decision expected in March

Saturday, August 29th, 2009
Environmental Protection Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Friday, August 28, 2009

Some fear EPA ozone restrictions could hinder local business, economy; decision expected in March

Austin Business Journal – by Kate Harrington ABJ Staff

For Yellow Cab, implementing efficiencies to its fleets that reduce idling and driving has been done largely to save money — and on the company’s terms.

But while Yellow Cab’s voluntary actions can help improve the Austin area’s air quality, in the coming months such measures may become less of a choice and more of a requirement for businesses as a result of the area’s potential failure to keep pace with federal air quality standards, said Chris Colemon, director of marketing for Yellow Cab and a member of the Austin Chamber of Commerce’s Clean Air Force.

Such failure could cause the area to be deemed nonattainment. According to the Clean Air Act of 1990, a “nonattainment area” has air pollution levels that persistently exceed National Ambient Air Quality Standards, or that impact air quality in a nearby area that fails to meet standards.

And companies such as Yellow Cab, as well as lawyers, economic development officials and transportation planners, are closely watching this area’s air particulate measurements, which may be deemed high enough to push the region into nonattainment within the next few months.

kharrington@bizjournals.com | (512) 494-2523

via Austin Business Journal

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Be an Ozone Action Hero

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
Community Action Network

Community Action Network

Officials and air quality experts in the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area warn that the region is down to the wire on staying within ozone limitations this year – and fending off an EPA designation that could hinder the region for the next 20 years.

August and September historically have the highest number of days when ground-level ozone measurements exceed the federal standard. The area’s “Big Push” campaign is making one last effort to convince individuals and businesses to reduce the number of motor vehicle trips, to reduce energy consumption, and to be mindful of activities which can increase ozone emissions.

The public can take the “Your air. Your commitment.” pledge online at www.ozoneheroes.com to become an Ozone Action Hero (and get a free T-shirt). The public and businesses can also take the “Commuter Challenge” during Commute Solutions month in September.

The Central Texas region includes Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties. For more information on ozone and what we can all do to make a difference, please visit  www.cityofaustin.org/airquality and www.cleanairforce.org.
via CA News (8/19/09)

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