As the days grow hotter, we remember the challenges Central Arkansas faces each summer in maintaining our air quality. For Central Arkansas, a metropolitan area of more than 350,000 workers stretching across Pulaski, Saline, Faulkner, Lonoke, Grant and Perry counties, every commute matters, especially during peak hours. The time we spend commuting has tangible impacts on the air we breathe.
Recent Metroplan analysis of Census Transportation Planning Products data illustrates just how mobile our workforce really is. Pulaski County alone is home to roughly 174,000 local jobs, yet many of the people filling those roles live in surrounding counties. Saline County, for example, offers approximately 25,000 jobs of its own but sends nearly 30,000 commuters into Pulaski each day. These patterns mean thousands of cars on our roadways during the morning and evening rush, adding to congestion, slowing vehicle speeds and increasing harmful emissions that contribute to ground-level ozone.
According to our recent Metrotrends report, the Central Arkansas region’s job and income growth has been steadily increasing, and by some measures, such as job momentum, it is above the U.S. average. Central Arkansas saw year-over-year job growth of 2.2 percent, compared with a U.S. average of 1.5 percent. This outpaces the region’s previous growth from 2015 to 2019.
It was also faster than the Northwest Arkansas metro area (1.9 percent). This, paired with our growth trends, results in nearly 30% of Central Arkansans commuting to other counties outside their resident county, resulting in a higher vehicle miles traveled rate. Our growth trend, paired with sprawling development patterns, creates a heavy reliance on single-occupancy vehicles and heightens the region’s exposure to poor air quality during ozone season.
Participating in a variety of transportation modes, including carpooling and telecommuting, reduces the amount of emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, which contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone.
Encouraging flexible commuting, including working from home and adjusted work hours, is also a strategy rooted in productivity and quality of life. Many of our region’s workers commute long distances from suburban and rural areas, often spending 30 minutes or more behind the wheel each way. Hybrid work models allow more time for family, reduce transportation costs and offer a healthier, more flexible lifestyle, all while reducing strain on our roads and air.
Employees can participate in multi-modal transportation by sharing a ride, or exploring biking, walking, or telecommuting. Our connected trail systems, the Central Arkansas Regional Greenway, are making choosing active commutes even easier.
During Ozone Action Season and throughout the year, encouraging multi-modal commuting is not only good for the people of Central Arkansas but also the air we all share. Let’s help preserve the Natural State, one commute at a time.
Editor’s note: Casey Covington is the executive director of Metroplan, which oversees Ozone Action Days, a public awareness program designed to inform people about potentially harmful ground-level ozone. The opinions expressed are those of the author.