Winter weather brings dangerous road conditions to many parts of the country, so winter is a good time to remind drivers about two simple steps that will reduce their time on the road, while also helping to ease traffic congestion and improve air quality.

This winter, It All Adds Up To Cleaner Air is providing a number of materials and online resources built on the theme of reducing drive time during winter weather. The winter messages are: trip chain more often and telecommute when you can. Winter materials include:

• A list of event/activity suggestions for promoting the winter tips
• A flyer with the winter tips for promoting the messages at events and in mailings
• Flash animation to post on your Web site and to email to your network of contacts
• An online quiz for you and your partners to post on your Web sites
• A “Trip Chain Checklist” to help drivers group their errands into one efficient trip
• Three radio ad scripts that can be easily customized with local information and taped or read live by community leaders or local radio personalities
• Eight print ads that can be used in advertising and other outreach
• Sixteen outdoor/transit ads that your partners may want to sponsor
• A press release template to use in your public relations program
• A sample newsletter article to promote your involvement in the initiative

All of these materials are free and can be downloaded at www.italladdsup.gov. You may contact us to make comments or request professional-quality versions of many of these materials. Also, we can help you customize the flyer, flash animation, print ads, and trip chain checklist—just let us know how we can help you.

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

• National Association of Regional Councils Washington Policy Conference, February 4-8, 2005, Washington, DC. National Association of Regional Councils. For more information, visit the "Conferences" page at www.narc.org.
  
  
• EPA National Air Quality Conference – Quality of Air Means Quality of Life, February 13-16, 2005: EPA’s National Air Quality Conference is a must for federal, state, and local air pollution organizations, metropolitan planning organizations, environmental organizations, and industry. This annual meeting provides a unique opportunity to learn the latest information on air quality mapping and forecasting, the Air Quality Index (AQI) and your health, and innovative outreach programs. Come share your experiences and learn more about effective ways to ensure the public has timely, accurate air quality information to make choices about how to protect their health. For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/airnow/
  partners/NAQ2005_San_FranciscoBLACK.pdf
  
  
• Telecommuter Appreciation Week, February 27 - March 5, 2005: Every year since 1993, the American Telecommuting Association (ATA) declares “Telecommuter Appreciation Week” on the week that includes March 3rd — in honor of Alexander Graham Bell’s birthday — to promote the “win-win” benefits of telecommuting, such as reduced commuting expenses, saved time, and reduced stress. This is the perfect time to hold an event or otherwise promote telecommuting tips. For more information, visit http://www.knowledgetree.com/ata.html.

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

We hope the winter materials and online resources will aid your outreach efforts. Please let us hear from you about the ways you adapt them for your community and your progress in reaching your target audience(s). Also, please let us know if you have ideas for the other 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!