David Fletcher's Government and Technology Weblog

July 2003
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 Wednesday, July 02, 2003

Salt Lake City - The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ) and Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) are asking for the public's help this summer to reduce air pollution and congestion on Utah's roads by taking action to "Choose Clean Air" and "Know Before You Go."

"Working together, we can help preserve two valuable resources we all use every day - clean air and travelable roads," UDEQ Executive Director Dianne Nielson said during a demonstration held at the UDOT Service Station July 1, 2003.

According to UDEQ and UDOT, the ideal thing to do to reduce pollution and congestion this summer is to drive less or not at all. But if that can't be done, then the next best thing the public can do is keep their vehicles well maintained and plan their trips in advance using tips provided at www.cleanair.utah.gov and www.commuterlink.utah.gov.

"Summer is a popular time to travel, but it's the worst time for air pollution," Nielson said. "Emissions from vehicles cause about 50 percent of our summertime smog."

Summer is also the time for road construction. While using mass transit, walking and biking are often better alternatives to driving, "there are times, especially during the summer vacation season, when people need to drive their vehicles," said UDOT Executive Director John Njord.

According to Nielson and Njord, a few simple actions can decrease hassles on the road and improve air quality.

  • Keep your car well tuned
  • Replace your car's air filter on a regular basis
  • Keep your tires properly inflated
  • Wait to gas up until evening hours when pollution levels are lower
  • Don't top off your tank at the gas pump
  • Limit the car's idling time

Furthermore, "planning your trip in advance can help you avoid road construction and traffic accidents, not to mention make your trips quicker," Njord said.

Utah's quality of life depends on clean air and travelable roads, and the actions that individuals take each day this summer will add up to make a big difference. "Each of us has a responsibility to do our part," Njord said. "We all play a role in improving our quality of life."

Likewise, Nielson said, "Your individual choices make a difference. The actions you take can benefit us all with cleaner air and reduced road congestion."


2:43:53 PM    

Washington, DC – The first release of GeoData.gov, the new public gateway to maps, geospatial data and resources, was launched today as part of Geospatial One-Stop, one of the President’s E-Government initiatives. GeoData.gov, launched by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Department of Interior, features "one-stop" access to geospatial information and resources and allows multiple users in different locations to share information, while integrating data from many sources. It also allows easy searches for existing and planned data with a goal of "two clicks to content."

Utah citizens also have access to a premier online map service at maps.utah.gov.  The site offers a wide variety of interactive and static maps, including maps of hunting areas, telecommunications networks, and state highways.

“Nearly every government program uses geospatial technology in some capacity. However not every program needs to buy its own data and build its own systems,” said Mark Forman, Administrator of E-Government and Information Technology at OMB. “By promoting collaboration and streamlining programs across government jurisdictions, GeoData.gov is E-Government at its best. By adopting the ‘buy once, use many’ approach of electronic government, the Geospatial One-Stop initiative is reducing duplicative spending while improving government effectiveness.”

With the goals of improved interoperability and access to geospatial data and resources, GeoData.gov is the first major milestone for the Geospatial One-Stop project. Although the portal is only a first step, Forman praised the initiative for the work that’s been done and stressed the benefits of moving to more open, standards-based architectures that state and local governments are demanding.

Work on a second iteration of the portal with enhanced functionality and alignment with the Federal Enterprise Architecture is already underway.

As an integral part of the President’s Management Agenda, the E-Government initiatives make it easier for citizens and businesses to interact with the government, save taxpayer dollars, and streamline citizen-to-government transactions. For more information on each of the President's E-Government initiatives, please visit www.egov.gov or contact OMB Communications at 202-395-7254.


7:40:42 AM    

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