As summer gives way to fall, it is important to remember that traffic congestion and air quality concerns don't fade with the colors of the leaves. As people head back to work and school, fall is a good time to remind the driving public about the simple things we all can do to help ease traffic congestion and reduce air pollution.

This fall, the It All Adds Up To Cleaner Air team has created a new series of materials and online resources built on the theme of alternate modes of transportation. The fall messages are: take mass transit, share a ride or carpool, and ride your bike or walk instead of driving. Fall materials include:

• Flash e-mail to promote the seasonal messages online
• Flyer with the fall tips that can be used to promote the messages at events and in mailings
• Event/activity suggestions for promoting the fall tips
• "DJ Dialogue" Suggestions for radio DJs to read on air to stimulate fun conversations about carpooling among their listeners
• Print ads (six) that can be used in advertising and other outreach
• Outdoor transit ads (twelve) that can be provided to partners for in-kind support
• Radio Scripts (three) that can be used to develop local PSAs
• Online quiz to post on your Web site and/or on partner sites
• Press release template to use in your public relations program
• Newsletter article sample to promote your involvement in the initiative

All of these materials are free and can be downloaded at www.italladdsup.gov. You may also contact us to make comments or request professional-quality versions of many of these materials. And don't forget that we can help you customize the flyer, flash e-mail and print ads; just let us know how we can help you.

DOT and EPA will continue their coordinated efforts to promote the It All Adds Up To Cleaner Air fall messages through a variety of activities, including:

• Working with the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, National Association of Regional Councils, American Public Transportation Association, Environmental Defense, League of American Bicyclists and the Association for Commuter Transportation to encourage these organizations to promote the fall messages, and share resources and information with their members and our Community Partners.
  
  
• Highlighting the materials on www.italladdsup.gov and contacting our Community Partners to solicit comments and feedback on the initiative.
  
  
• Making plans for the second generation of It All Adds Up To Cleaner Air messages and materials. We are beginning outreach to organizations nationwide to seek funding for a Pooled Fund program - an innovative funding tool that combines funding from a variety of sources to "add up" to a larger sum to be used for new message and materials development. Funds from this program will be leveraged to develop the second generation of the initiative. Our goal is to make the second generation of messages and materials even more successful than the first. Stay tuned for more information about our pooled fund efforts.

The It All Adds Up fall program coincides with several national, regional and local efforts to improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion, including:

• International Walk to School Week, October 6-10, 2003: The Partnership for a Walkable America sponsored the first Walk to School Day in 1997. Now a full week, this event is bringing together children, parents, teachers and communities in 29 countries around the world. Last year, this event won the Stockholm Partnership's Award for Sustainable Communities. This year join in the fun and teach your communities' children one simple way they can help reduce traffic congestion, clean up the air and be active! For more information, visit the Web site.
  
  
• Communities in Motion Day, October 16, 2003: The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) sponsors this one-day event celebrating public transportation and showcasing how transit benefits communities. Communities from coast-to-coast are making plans to participate in the celebration. Last year's activities included free rides on all transit routes for the entire day, and distribution of locally grown apples and thank you notes to patrons. See what your community is doing to commemorate "Communities in Motion Day" by visiting APTA's Web site.
  
  
• Healthy Lung Month, October 2003: The American Lung Association (ALA) sponsors Healthy Lung Month each year to educate the public about the dangers of air pollution and to promote activities that help reduce it. Air pollutants caused by vehicle exhaust often exacerbate lung ailments, such as asthma and bronchitis, and also can increase the risk of allergies, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. The ALA suggests observing this month by riding your bike or walking instead of driving your car, so you're reducing air pollution and exercising your body and lungs.

We hope the fall materials and online resources will aid your outreach efforts this season. Please let us hear from you about the ways you adapt these materials for your community and your success in reaching your target audience(s). And please let us know if you have ideas for future seasons - we rely on your feedback as we look for ways to improve the initiative. Please send us a note to let us know what you're thinking! Mark your calendars: the new Winter Theme Program materials will be released in mid-November!