Idea Details

Large portions of East Tennessee are designated non-attainment areas for air quality. A major source of pollutants is combustion of fossil fuels by motor vehicle usage. To reduce vehicle emissions, the Knoxville Transportation Planning Organization created Smart Trips, an initiative that works with employers and the general public to promote alternative transportation. The program helps employers design commuter strategies tailored to specific worksites, encouraging non-single occupant vehicle (SOV) travel. This is accomplished through tools such as incentives, carpool database, parking management, and awareness training. In addition, a marketing campaign targets the general public, promoting non-SOV options to a wider audience than would be reached through employer outreach alone. By using alternative transportation, commuters have been reducing the number of drive-alone miles, thereby saving money and, more importantly, improving air quality by reducing vehicle emissions.