State and Local Climate and Energy Program
Sustainable Transportation for a Sustainable Future
Salt Lake City, Utah
Federal Funding: $368,554
Project Timeline: February 2010 – December 2012
Project Summary
Community-based Social Marketing to Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
To reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, Salt Lake City will utilize community-based social marketing to enhance the existing vehicle travel reduction programs of the city, county, and state government. To improve these programs and reduce vehicle miles traveled and the accompanying emissions, the City will work with state agencies and consultants to develop effective community-based social marketing. First, targeted research will be conducted into the barriers and benefits for each major travel group. Then, three to four programs will be retooled, including the development of initiatives for corporations, community groups, and local schools. The programs will then be launched, and the results will be periodically assessed. The team will then take the resulting Sustainable Travel for a Sustainable Future toolkit to launch vehicle travel reduction programs in at least two other Utah communities. The toolkit will be refined based upon feedback from these communities.
The project will reduce vehicle miles traveled and, as a result, improve air quality for county residents. In addition, the project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The program is expected to help prepare the community for other sustainability initiatives in Salt Lake City.
Community Characteristics
| Population: | 185,000 |
|---|---|
| Area: | 110 square miles |
| Government Type: | City |
| Community Type: | Urban |
| Median Household Income: | $44,552 |
Program Results
| Expected GHG Reductions: | 63,000 metric tons CO2e |
|---|---|
| GHG Reductions (as of 1/11): | 952 metric tons CO2e |
| VMT Reductions (as of 1/11): | 1.3 million miles |
| Gasoline Saved (as of 1/11): | 59,485 gallons |
| Cost Savings (as of 1/11): | $735,541 |
| Participants (as of 1/11): | 10,612 |
Program Websites
- http://www.cleartheairchallenge.org
- http://www.facebook.com/cleartheairchallenge
- http://www.caretocleartheair.org
- http://twitter.com/cleartheairutah
- http://www.idlefree.utah.gov
Media Coverage
- The business case for clean air, 11/30/2011
- Short takes on local issues (bad for lungs, bad for business) – Salt Lake Tribune Opinion, 12/3/2011
- Clean air important to successful business, leaders say – KSL News, 12/1/2011
- Salt Lake Chamber addresses winter inversions – Salt Lake Tribune, 11/30/2011
- Utah business leaders make the economic case for clean air – Deseret News, 11/30/2011
- Campaign to reduce air pollution begins (VIDEO) – FOX 13, 11/14/2011
- People urged to drive less, drive smarter – Deseret News (Click on “See all photos” under picture of Charlie to view the set), 11/14/2011
- Millcreek sixth-graders to kick off clean-air campaign – Salt Lake Tribune, 11/12/2011
- Gov, mayors kick off 2011 Clean Air Challenge, 6/6/2011
- Utahns encouraged to Clear the Air in January, 12/18/2010
- City to Pursue Idle-Free Ordinance, 9/6/2010
- Awards Given for Utah's Clear the Air Challenge, 8/7/2010
- Gov, mayors kick off 2011 Clear the Air Challenge (KSL),
Videos and Photos
