Environmental Concerns and Regulations

The Issues:

• Air pollution is the number one environmental problem facing the greater Washington region, and motor vehicles are the number one contributor to ground-level ozone air pollution. 
  
  
• Ground-level ozone is harmful to our health. It is formed by a combination of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides (which are emitted by vehicle exhausts and other processes) which, under the right conditions of sunlight, heat, and wind, react to form ozone.
  
  
• On bad days, ozone concentrations are high enough to be damaging to our lungs, especially those of children, the elderly, and individuals with lung problems such as asthma or bronchitis.
  
  
• Our region has been designated a "Non-attainment Area" for ozone by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, because it did not meet the minimum health standards for ozone under the Clean Air Act.
  
  
• Continuing to not meet the minimum health standards for ozone under the Clean Air Act could result in mandatory regulations affecting commuters and businesses. It could even mean drastic measures, such as the cut-off of Federal funds for roads, as has happened recently in Atlanta.
  
  

The Solution:

Environmental issues involve everybody: we are all a part of the problem and we must all be a part of the solution. Fortunately, there are easy ways for you to help improve our area's air quality. Implementing commuter benefits can significantly reduce vehicle travel and air pollution.

Listed below are just a few of the commuter benefits your company can offer to help improve the environment:

• Provide tax-free transit benefits to help your employees cover the costs of commuting on Metrorail, VRE, MARC, local and commuter buses, and vanpools. Tax-free transit benefits save you money in payroll taxes, and encourage your employees to use forms of transportation other than driving alone. Fewer cars on the road means less pollution.
  
• Become an Air Quality Action Days Partner.
  
• Participate in the "Best Workplaces for Commuters"
  (BWC) program, and be recognized as a "Best Workplace for Commuters" -- a mark of excellence for environmentally and employee friendly companies.

For a complete list of commuter benefits that your company can implement to improve the environment, contact Arlington Transportation Partners (ATP). We will work with you to design, implement, and maintain the commuter benefits that are right for your company.