With spring's arrival and the approach of the ozone season, many local and regional organizations are stepping up efforts to encourage activities that reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. For this reason, spring is a popular season for a wide variety of national environmental, clean air and transportation observances, including:

• National Car Care Month in April
  (Car Care Council)
• Earth Day on April 22
  (Earth Day Network)
• Clean Air Month in May
  (American Lung Association - ALA)
• National Bike Month in May
  (League of American Bicyclists - LAB)
• 10th National Clean Cities Conference from May 2-5, 2004
  (U.S. Dept. of Energy)
• National Transportation Week from May 16-22, 2004
  (U.S. Dept. of Transportation)
• Bike-to-Work Week from May 16-22, 2004
  (LAB)
• Bike-to-Work Day on May 21, 2004
  (LAB)

The It All Adds Up To Cleaner Air team is pleased to offer the spring season of resources to support your efforts to leverage on these events and observances. The It All Adds Up To Cleaner Air spring messages are focused on the importance of car maintenance and exercise, and the materials we've developed make the link between these activities and improved air quality and reduced traffic congestion. The spring messages are: Care for your car, Care for yourself and Spread the word. The list of spring materials includes:

• A flash animation to promote the spring messages online
• A flyer to promote the messages at events and in mailings
• Seven print ads to support advertising campaigns
• Three radio scripts to use in a PSA campaign
• An online quiz to post on your Web site and/or on partner sites
• A press release template to use in your public relations program
• A list of event/activity suggestions
• Four outdoor transit ads for transit agency partners
• A sample newsletter article to promote your involvement in the initiative

And this spring, DOT and EPA will be busier than ever promoting the messages of the It All Adds Up To Cleaner Air initiative. Among the activities we're already engaged in around the country:

• At the American Planning Association's National Planning Conference in Washington, DC, Cindy Burbank, FHWA Associate Administrator for Planning Environment and Realty will discuss how the It All Adds Up initiative illustrates the Western Governors Association’s Enlibra Principles, including Change A Heart, Change A Nation; Science for Facts, Process for Priorities; and Solutions Transcend Political Boundaries.
• Presenting what's new with It All Adds Up initiative and how it contributes to reducing fuel use at the 10th National Clean Cities Conference.
• Working with national organizations (including the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, American Lung Association, Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Car Care Council, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, League of American Bicyclist, National Association of Regional Councils, State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators and Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials) to promote the spring messages and share their resources with Community Partners.
• Highlighting the materials on the Web site and contacting our Community Partners to solicit comments and feedback on the initiative
• Offering technical assistance to Community Partners and national organizations, such as customizing the flash animation and answering any questions about how to use the evaluation tools.

Spring, before you begin your ozone-season activities, is the perfect time to decide on your outreach program objectives and to gather baseline information. The It All Adds Up To Cleaner Air Web site has three evaluation tools to help you: 1) an easy-to-use process evaluation workbook that will help you set your objectives and track your activities, 2) a telephone survey that will help you measure the impact of your public education efforts, and 3) a short version of the survey that you can use to get a snap shot of your target audience's awareness and attitudes.

We look forward to hearing from you about the ways you use these materials in your community and about your successes in reaching your target audience(s). Please let us know if you have ideas for the future - we rely on you for feedback as we continually look for ways to improve the initiative. Please send us a note to let us know what you're thinking!