Public Transit
Three public transportation agencies serve the D-FW region: Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA), and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority. Each provides rail and bus service, and they all work together to connect Dallas, Tarrant, and Denton counties. For more information visit:
Did you know that DART has an online ‘Travel Agent’ to get you to plenty of entertainment spots throughout Dallas? Visit the DART Travel Agent website to see where you can go.
Carpooling
If you haven’t thought about ridesharing, now is the time. The North Central Texas Council of Governments has set up a Web site to help residents find a carpool or vanpool. The program locates others who live or work near you who are also looking for a carpool partner. Visit www.TryParkingIt.com to sign up. Try Parking It will also help you track how much emissions you have saved by using carpooling, transit, and alternative commute options. Employers can encourage employees to register and track their commutes, and even offer rewards.
Your local transit agencies also have vanpool opportunities. Some are organized through employers; others may be organized by individuals:
Taxis
The North Texas Green & Go Clean Taxi Partnership encourages the purchase and use of low-emitting, green taxi cabs and limousines, which release fewer pollutants into the air.
Telecommuting
With remote access capabilities and video conferencing, people can now do their jobs without leaving home. Telecommuting lowers fuel consumption, reduces air pollution and eases traffic congestion.
Flex Scheduling
Another great, low effort way to help reduce air pollution is to work a “flex schedule”. Flexible scheduling doesn’t completely eliminate commutes, but it is an alternative to commuting during typical rush hour traffic. Shifts can be staggered to begin before or after rush hour. Depending on the nature of your business, employees can begin work earlier or later in the day so that their commutes are outside of the rush hour window. This eases traffic congestion that contributes to air pollution.
Employees can also choose to work more hours during the day in order to eliminate one day of work each week, called a “compressed work schedule”. The City of Dallas encourages department managers to allow employees to work 9 or 10 hour days in exchange for one or two days off per pay period. This reduces the amount of vehicles on the road during rush hour. Although this only amounts to one or two days per pay period, when multiplied by hundreds or thousands of workers, it can make a difference. One or both of these options may be feasible at your place of employment.
