Georgia Commute Options (GCO) is on a mission to change how people commute to work. We’ve made good on this promise for more than two decades, reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality in the Atlanta region.
The world looks much different now than it did nearly two years ago, but in the time since, the GCO team has uncovered ways to support metro Atlantans who have been navigating the new normal. Take a look at some of our top achievements in 2021.
Rising to the Challenge to Improve Air Quality, Health
Way to go, metro Atlanta! In 2021, GCO presented two region-wide modal promotions, inviting metro Atlantans to switch from driving alone to a clean commute. These included the first-ever Million Air Challenge —an all-hands two-week event aimed at removing 1M pounds of CO2 from metro Atlanta’s air — and Biketober. Both events were a success, giving participants a chance to do good and improve their health. Congratulations to everyone who did their part!
1,059,992
Miles of clean trips logged during the two-week long Million Air Challenge
938,000
Pounds of CO2 removed from the Atlanta region’s air during the Million Air Challenge
4,377
Biketober registrants in 2021
342,831
Miles biked during Biketober
Creating a Safer Travel Experience for Students, Families with Georgia Commute Schools
Transportation safety for metro Atlanta students and their families is a top priority. Each year Georgia Commute Schools (GCS) — a GCO program — works with educators to build curricula for young learners to encourage travel safety and teach transportation’s impact on air quality. A highlight from the year was National School Bus Safety Week (Oct. 18-22), which featured awareness-building events and bus driver appreciation all weeklong.
5
Air quality curricula developed to support STEM education for grades K-12
16
Schools and district offices participated in National School Bus Safety Week
125+
Bus drivers celebrated during National School Bus Safety Week for their ongoing commitment to their communities
Leading With Award-Winning Research
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, GCO began an ongoing survey of the Atlanta region’s workforce that uncovered a strong demand for a hybrid, flexible future. Surveying and focus groups continued throughout 2021 to tease out trends and insights about new challenges. This research inspired our team to develop and improve services for employers and commuters. In 2021, we rolled out a growing library of resources to help metro Atlanta employers and their employees prepare their return to the workplace and solve problems around challenges like workday flexibility and commuting. All totaled, these efforts earned GCO national recognition from the Association of Commuter Transportation (ACT) for Excellence in Research.
3,000
Survey respondents representing employees, managers, and executives
4
Number of follow-up surveys conducted in 2021, plus special focus groups with managers and executives
20+
Return-to-office resources available to employers, managers and employees
Remote work in metro Atlanta since April 2020
Click here to take a closer look at key findings from this award-winning research.
Achieving the Mission Through Partnership
Change doesn’t happen on its own. Georgia Commute Options partners with employers, property managers, cities, counties, chambers of commerce, Community Improvement Districts (CIDs) and local and regional transportation agencies to move the needle on the Atlanta region’s traffic and air quality issues. These partnerships have expanded the program’s reach, extending commuting services to those who need it most. Together, we have supported more than 400,000+ commuters and prevented 27 thousand tons of emissions from polluting our air.
421
Employers and property managers partnerships
54
City and county partnerships
12
Chamber of commerce partnerships
10
Community improvement districts (CIDs)
7
Transportation Management Associations, including Clifton Corridor TMA, Livable Buckhead, Midtown Transportation, Downtown Connects, ASAP (Atlantic Station), Perimeter Connects and AERO (ATL Airport)
What’s Next? We’re Beaming With Excitement!
Many thanks to the metro Atlanta community for sharing in our mission. We’re looking ahead to 2022 with great anticipation for the progress we will make. Let’s talk about how we can do it together.