Rated as the fourth most congested metropolitan region in the country by the Texas Transportation Institute, Atlanta is experiencing serious air quality problems that seemingly threaten its quality of life through the weight of traffic jams. Under the leadership of Georgia Governor Roy E. Barnes, who worked with the Georgia legislature to create GRTA, many local partnerships have been established that collectively bring the region closer to a bold new future with cleaner air and more attractive travel choices. GRTA's recently approved long-range transportation plan emphasizes enhancing and expanding public transportation, as well as bicycle and pedestrian facilities, while maintaining the necessary road infrastructure in the Atlanta area. The ozone level in the Atlanta area exceeded the federal air quality standards for 22 days during the months from May to September 1998. To address this challenge, the area's new transportation plan also calls for dropping ozone levels, the region's main bad air culprit, from the current 264 tons of nitrous oxides emitted each day to 214 tons a day by 2005.
Public transportation helps people conserve energy and promote cleaner air.
Public transportation also reduces auto-fuel consumption by 1.5 billion gallons annually, according to the FTA study. These are benefits that accrue already. If further investment is made, further benefits will accrue. Improving access to public transportation can and should be one of the key strategies used to achieve cleaner air and reduce dependency on expensive foreign oil sources. But there is more.