|
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.
More Information:
Back to main Air
Quality page
