Solutions to Air Quality Problems in the DC Area

Well-planned communities with town centers; a mix of offices, shops and homes; and with transit service, bike lanes, sidewalks and crosswalks (smart growth communities) improve air quality. They decrease car traffic and pollution by making it more convenient to use transit, walk, bike or drive shorter distances. When fewer vehicles are on the road, not only does pollution decrease, but we also decrease the amount of congestion on the roads, which can speed up traffic flow and increase fuel efficiency.

Case Study - Atlanta, Georgia:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes the contribution that well-planned development makes to reducing air pollution. A transit-oriented development project in Atlanta qualified for air pollution reduction credits because it shifted development to a location with higher levels of transit ridership, walking and biking. We must do the same here.

Case Study - Atlanta, Georgia:
The positive effects that increasing public transportation can have on air quality were illustrated during the 1996 Summer Olympics when the city of Atlanta underwent major efforts to decrease traffic in the area by increasing public transportation. The city put 1,000 new buses into service and mounted an intensive public education campaign on the benefits of mass transit. As a result, the number of people using transit tripled and the reduced driving led to a 42% decrease in asthma-related emergency room visits for children living in the city.

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