You know the power of small actions repeated over time. Working a hybrid schedule. Choosing MARTA instead of driving alone. Carpooling with a coworker. Biking to the office once a week. On their own, those choices may seem small. But across metro Atlanta this spring, they added up to something remarkable.
Thanks to thousands of commuters participating in Georgia Commute Options’ Clean Air Counts, this year’s campaign delivered record-breaking results for cleaner air, reduced congestion, and commuter savings across the region.
The numbers are impressive — but what matters most is what they represent. They show that when people are given the tools, encouragement, and flexibility to commute differently, they respond. And their choices create measurable impact for the entire region.
Every Commute Choice Counts
Clean Air Counts launched just ahead of Georgia’s smog season, when warmer temperatures and vehicle emissions can contribute to poor air quality across metro Atlanta. Tailpipe emissions and even everyday roadway wear from tires release pollutants that can worsen asthma, heart disease, and other respiratory conditions. That’s why commute choices matter more than many people realize.
Every transit ride, telework day, carpool, vanpool trip, walk, or bike ride helps reduce emissions and congestion. And when thousands of people make those choices together, the impact becomes visible in the data. This year’s challenge results included:
- More than 1.1 million miles of clean trips
- 65,318 clean trips logged
- 1,029,114 vehicle miles reduced
- 848,387 pounds of CO2 emissions prevented
- $674,184 saved by commuters
The Clean Air Counts challenge is built around a simple idea: individual actions can create regional change. This year’s results prove that idea is more than just a slogan.
A Win for Employers, Too
For employers, the success of the campaign is also a reminder that flexible commute options benefit more than the environment. Programs that support teleworking, flexible schedules, transit use, and carpooling can help employees reduce stress, lower commuting costs, and improve work-life balance. At the same time, fewer single-occupancy vehicles on the road help improve mobility for everyone traveling through the region.
Many employers are already exploring more flexible approaches to commuting, especially as the region prepares for major events like FIFA World Cup 26™ next month. Find out how we can help you make a game plan for commuting!
Clean Air Counts shows that employees are ready and willing to participate when organizations encourage smarter, cleaner commuting habits. And people appreciate seeing that their efforts count.
Through the MyGCO platform, commuters could track their personal impact, earn rewards and see how their individual trips contributed to larger regional outcomes. That sense of shared progress is part of what makes the campaign so meaningful.
Ready to get rolling on a new commuter program? With MyGCO, employees who take and log cleaner trips to work benefit by saving time and stress. Plus, they’ll earn cash and prizes all year long. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
Georgia Commute Options—a program made possible by the Atlanta Regional Commission and Georgia Department of Transportation—works with businesses, property managers, CIDs and local transportation management associations to develop and implement commute programs and services that reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality across the region.