Clean Air Guide

Guía para mejorar la calidad del aire click here for the spanish translation
2009 Make a Difference Poster Contest

Here's how you can . . .

  • Rideshare
  • Vanpool
  • Telecommute
  • Bike commute

The Valley’s air quality is among the worst in the nation. Much has been done to reduce pollution, including cleaner fuels and tough requirements on businesses. Great strides have been made – our air is actually cleaner today than 10 years ago. However, the Valley’s air is still unhealthy and we face loss of federal road funds if we do not make real progress, very soon. Because 60 percent of our pollution comes from motor vehicles, cars and trucks are a primary area for change. The Tulare County Association of Governments is launching this outreach campaign, and working with local businesses to encourage employees to try commute alternatives.

Did you know ...

If only 100 employees commuted to work in pairs instead of driving alone for just two weeks a year, they would save 75 pounds of hydrocarbons, 30 pounds of nitrogen oxides, 550 pounds of carbon monoxide and 500 gallons of gasoline. Imagine what we could achieve if we all make the effort to Make a Difference in Air Quality!

Carpools

South Valley Rideshare can provide your employees with a free personalized matchlist of potential carpool partners and help them set up a carpool. An emergency ride home program is offered to encourage carpooling. South Valley Rideshare will reimburse a carpooler up to $35 for the cost of hiring a taxi or rental car. To participate your employees must carpool at least three days a week and must be registered for the program.

For information, call toll-free 866/808-RIDE or visit www.southvalleyrideshare.com.

Park and Ride

Caltrans has developed Park and Ride lots throughout the South Valley to encourage carpooling.

Vanpool

A vanpool is a group of people – usually from 7 to 15 passengers – who commute together on a regular basis in a van. Most vanpools travel at least 40 miles round-trip. To lease a vanpool vehicle, contact: VPSI at (800) 826-7433 or www.vanpoolusa.com; or call Enterprise Vanpool, (800) 826-4967, www.vanpool.com. Kings County also has vanpools available for lease, purchased through a state grant. Call (559) 582-3211, ext. 2696 for more information.

Other Clean Air Alternatives

  • Telecommuting.
  • Some employers are able to establish home-based work stations for employees, so they can avoid morning and afternoon commutes.
  • Flexible/staggered work schedules
  • Working four 10-hour days, rather than five 8 hour days, is one example of this alternative. The goal is to reduce traffic during the traditional rush hour and eliminate the commute periodically throughout the month.
  • Bike to work
  • Employers can provide bike racks and showers to encourage this air friendly commute mode.
  • Transit. Encourage your employees to utilize the transit systems in Tulare County by providing transit passes. For route and rate information for Visalia City Coach call 713 4950; for Tulare Transit Express, call 688-5706; for Porterville COLT, call 782-7448; for Tulare County Transit, and transit in other communities, call 733-6291.

How Do Employers Benefit?

  • Improved productivity
  • Reduced absenteeism
  • Bike to work. Employers can provide bike racks and showers to encourage this air friendly commute mode.
  • Fewer parking spaces needed
  • Reduced traffic congestion
  • Enhanced community image

Tax Benefits

  • You can provide benefits for carpooling, vanpooling or public transit to your employees and these benefits will not be taxed by the State of California.
  • You also gain a tax deduction for the expense.
  • You can allow your employees to exchange up to $100 a month in taxable salary for a tax-free transit or vanpool benefit.
  • You save money overall since the amount exchanged is not subject to payroll taxes.
  • Employees save since the salary exchanged for benefits is not subject to income tax,
  • (Check with the Internal Revenue Service and the State of California for the most up-to date information. The Association for Commuter Transportation, ACT, is another good source.)

Let Us Tell You More

Staff of the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) would like to speak with your employees about how they can make a difference through commute alternatives. Businesses that encourage a majority of employees to participate in our short presentation will receive a free ad in the next issue of the Tulare County Transit Guide. You will also be recognized in news releases, in the TCAG newsletter and on the TCAG web site. To schedule a presentation, contact Becky Loyd-Kelch at The Lockwood Agency,
(559) 733-3737.