AAA and the Environment

Improving Air and Water Quality and Preserving and Protecting the Land

AAA sponsors programs and supports policies that reflect members' concerns about the environmental implications of maintaining the nation's transportation system, which affords Americans the mobility they cherish. Depending upon the region of the country and whether the location is urban, suburban, or rural, AAA clubs support a wide range of projects aimed at facilitating environmentally-responsible transportation.

Mass Transit

AAA recognizes the interdependence of all modes of transportation in achieving mobility goals and advocates a multi-modal approach to transportation. In many urban areas of the country, AAA clubs support a wide range of bus and rail mass transit projects that effectively reduce congestion and help meet air quality goals.

AAA clubs have supported multi-modal funding initiatives, including funding for expansion of bus rapid transit systems and multi-modal transportation capability and service enhancements.

AAA club representatives serve on transit advisory and planning committees.

AAA clubs join with mass transit and environmental groups in coalitions to support mass transit projects.

AAA clubs publish articles and editorials in their member publications advocating a multi-modal approach in transportation planning.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Initiatives

AAA encourages walking and bicycling as viable alternatives to driving.

AAA clubs advise and provide recommendations to transportation departments on issues and trends related to alternative means of transportation, including development of traffic calming and context-sensitive designs to protect neighborhoods and enable motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians to share the roads.

AAA club representatives serve on advisory committees and other groups that support bicycle and pedestrian facilities in the larger context of mobility enhancing projects.

Vehicle Emissions and Fuel Economy

AAA recognizes the need to reduce the impact of vehicles on air quality and resources and supports effective programs to do so.

AAA clubs inform the public on the role of proper vehicle maintenance in maintaining and improving air quality, including through regular "Car Care Month" public outreach programs, car care seminars, and diagnostic emission testing.

AAA clubs support programs to assure that all vehicles, including heavy-duty trucks, reduce emissions.

AAA's "Gas Watcher's Guide" provides motorists with information on ways to conserve gasoline and thus help reduce emissions.

AAA has commissioned and published studies to assist policymakers in efforts to reduce air pollution by targeting sources of emissions.

AAA clubs have worked to reduce emissions by supporting cleaner burning fuels and supported performance standards allowing flexibility in meeting stringent emissions requirements.

AAA clubs have supported the development and use of lower emission vehicles so as to expand motorists' transportation choices.

AAA clubs have supported the development and use of alternative fuels that reduce vehicle emissions.

Congestion Mitigation

AAA clubs promote and encourage voluntary congestion mitigation measures in congested urban areas such as carpool, vanpool, and other ridesharing initiatives, addition of High Occupancy Vehicle lanes where effective, construction of park-and-ride facilities, and dissemination of ridesharing information.

AAA clubs participate in congestion management strategy planning groups and committees and advocate ridesharing as an effective strategy.

AAA clubs disseminate rideshare information to employees and members, including articles in member publications.

AAA clubs provide a wide range of incentives for employees to reduce congestion, including telecommuting, flexible working hours, ridesharing programs, vanpool sponsorship, and reimbursement for mass transit expenditures.

AAA clubs support more extensive utilization of Intelligent Transportation Systems and other tools to provide better utilization of existing roads and highways, including signal synchronization, freeway metering, in-vehicle and roadside driver route and incident information, traffic enforcement, incident management and clearance, freeway service patrols, electronic toll congestion and advanced in-vehicle technologies.

AAA clubs encourage the use of contract incentives and advanced construction management techniques to speed project delivery and reduce congestion-related delays and disruption.

Highway Beautification

AAA clubs participate in a wide variety of highway beautification programs.

AAA clubs serve on task forces and advisory committees that support and implement scenic byway corridor management plans, a program that AAA was instrumental in establishing, to preserve and enhance natural and historic vistas along parkways and other roads.

AAA clubs support roadway landscaping and sound barriers and litter and graffiti removal programs.

AAA clubs support allocation of highway funds to transportation enhancement programs that offset the impacts of highway projects and provide environmental improvements.

Water Quality

AAA recognizes the impact that roads and vehicles have on water quality and supports programs to mitigate that impact.

AAA clubs conduct the "Great Battery Roundup" programs to dispose of batteries properly and inform the public about the environmental hazards of improper disposal.

AAA clubs in areas of the country where oxygenates are required have supported legislation prohibiting the sale of gasoline containing the additive MTBE, which has been found to contaminate water supplies.