Metroplan is involved in a variety of efforts to safeguard and improve the air quality
of the region. Automobile emissions contribute to pollution from four of the six major sources (ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides), particularly harmful ground level ozone. Since 1997, Metroplan has partnered with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, Arkansas Department of Health, and Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department to administer the Ozone Action Days program. Ozone Action Days is a cooperative effort to raise awareness in Central Arkansas
about the health effects and means of reducing ground level ozone. Other efforts to
reduce auto-related emissions include the Central Arkansas Rideshare program, which provides public information about carpools, vanpools and express buses, and arkRide.com, which is a free web-based rideshare matching service for commuters.
Of a more technical nature, the Congestion Management System and Intelligent Transportation Systems are utilized to increase the efficiency of surface transportation,
and thereby reduce emissions, in central Arkansas.