Welcome to the ACT Collaborative Newsletter!
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Welcome to the ACT Collaborative Newsletter!
Welcome to the Air Central Texas Collaborative Newsletter! ACT will be shifting from a monthly to quarterly schedule and will be highlighting Clean Air Coalition Advisory Committee partners active in our outreach and educational efforts. We'll keep you up to date on their latest efforts, projects, and upcoming events, while still providing the air quality information you need to Be Air Aware in 2025.
Thank you to our participating advisory committee members for your input on our outreach efforts:
Start of Ozone Season 2025
March 1st officially marks the start of Ozone Season (March 1 - November 30), a time when air quality levels are the poorest for the region due to ozone pollution.
The months when the highest levels of ozone are most common are between May and June and between August and October. That said, "moderate" levels can start as early as February and as late as November.
Ground Level Ozone is an irritant that can negatively affect human health making it more difficult to breathe, increasing the frequency of asthma attacks, and inflaming or damaging the airways.
You can help to protect air quality by;
- Limiting driving;
- Properly maintaining your vehicle;
- Using the right size vehicle for your trip (ex. walk/bike, vs. sedan, vs. pick-up truck);
- Using public transit instead of driving or ride-hailing;
- Conserving electricity and water; and
- Refueling your vehicle in the evening.
Protecting air quality becomes more critical when ozone levels are forecast to reach unhealthy levels, these days are called Ozone Action Day – meaning you should take action to reduce air pollution as well as take action to reduce exposure to ozone pollution.
You can also sign up for Ozone Action Day alerts from Air Central Texas below!
Shape the Future of Climate Action in Central Texas - Take the Survey Today!
Support a healthier climate and community.
Central Texas is taking bold steps toward addressing climate change with the creation of its first-ever Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, and we need your input!
In 2023, the City of Austin received a $1 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These funds are supporting a collaborative effort among regional government agencies and community organizations to develop a unified plan that will take action against climate change and improve air quality across the greater Central Texas area.
To make this plan truly impactful, we need to hear from people like you. What matters most to you when it comes to climate action? What steps do you think Central Texas should take to reduce pollution and build a healthier, more resilient community?
By taking our quick survey, you can share your priorities and ideas — and as a thank-you, you’ll have the chance to receive a $50 Visa gift card!
Your voice will help shape a healthier climate and community in Central Texas. Let’s work together to make it happen!
From Airport to Air Quality - Clean Air Force
While Austin certainly holds a reputation for its nature-loving population and prominent greenspaces, its air quality is far from perfect. According to the American Lung Association’s “State of the Air” report (a 25-year study that collected air monitor data across the U.S.), the Austin area ranks 53rd for the worst Ozone Days out of the 228 regions assessed for this variable. The Austin area also placed 54th for worst annual particle pollution out of 204 areas studied. According to the report, Austin is not the city in Texas with the highest pollution (with Houston ranking worse in all the categories), but air pollution continues to be a concern in Austin.
However, novel projects like the Mueller Redevelopment promote a more sustainable future, with better air quality, in Austin. Austin’s Robert Mueller Municipal Airport (which first opened in 1930) closed in 1999, leaving a large, vacant plot of land east of I-35. In 2000, the city of Austin approved a plan to redevelop the area into a mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhood. By 2007, the first family moved into the new development.
Mueller’s strategic walkability, bike infrastructure, compact design, and mixed-use focus limit the need for residents to drive to parks, schools, grocery stores, or shopping districts. These features help reduce the residents’ vehicle miles traveled (VMT), lowering vehicle particle pollution (like PM2.5) and emissions that react with sunlight to form ozone. Aside from limiting VMT, Mueller buildings are committed to energy efficiency and low-emission materials. The development even includes 26 LEED-certified buildings. Because of these efforts, Mueller’s management says their sustainability efforts are equivalent to removing 2,500 automobiles from Austin roads.
While the Mueller development alone may not make a significant impact on overall Austin air quality, it is a unique model for how sustainable and low-emissions living could look. Particularly striking is the land’s transition from an airport, a notoriously high polluter, to a pollution-conscious development. With the success of this community, more mixed-use, pedestrian-centered developments are breaking ground in Austin, including The Ivory, which is the first carless community in the city. These innovative projects are helping bring Austin closer to clean air while providing convenience, connection, and a sense of community to residents.
References:
- American Lung Association, “State of the Air” (2024) https://www.lung.org/research/sota
- American Lung Association, “Compare Your Air” (2024) https://www.lung.org/research/sota/city-rankings/compare-your-air?msa1=Austin-Round%20Rock-Georgetown,%20TX&msa2=Houston-The%20Woodlands,%20TX
- City of Austin, “Mueller Redevelopment” (https://www.austintexas.gov/department/mueller-redevelopment
- Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems, “Mueller Green Resources Guide” (2012) https://muelleraustin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MGRGv3_final.pdf
- Mueller Central, “Sustainability” https://muelleraustin.com/
Air Quality News
San Marcos Opens Downtown Parking Surveys - San Marcos staff is inviting residents, businesses and visitors to participate in two surveys launched the week of Feb. 17, providing insight into how the community experiences downtown parking, according to a Feb. 26 news release. The surveys aim to guide decisions that enhance accessibility, efficiency and convenience. (Community Impact)
Governor Greg Abbott Rejects Federal Air Pollution Limits - Governor Abbott sent a letter to the EPA, rejecting new air federal air pollution limits. The limits were set by the EPA a year ago to lower the amount of soot (a black powdery or flaky substance) from 12 to nine micrograms per cubic meter. (KRLD News Radio)
Austin Transit Partnership Presents Pedestrian Features, Changes to Stops in Revised Project Connect Plan - The new pedestrian features would be a hike-and-bike greenway consisting of a tree-lined, trackside trail in the median between the separated traffic lanes lined along East Riverside Drive, a car-free zone on the University of Texas at Austin campus and a plaza at the planned Oltorf stop on South Congress, which would be the southern end-of-line under phase one of the project. (Austin Monitor)
Austin Ranks Fifth in Nation for Cities Most at Risk for Wildfires - “Austin is very unique: It actually has an interesting collection of wildland-urban interface,” Bock said. Wildland-urban interface is “the zone of transition between unoccupied land and human development,” as defined by the U.S. Fire Administration. (Austin Monitor)
Austin's New CapMetro Rapid Lines Debut with Buses Every 20 Minutes - Capital Metro is rolling out its long-awaited Rapid lines this weekend, but "rapid" for now will mean a 20- to 30-minute wait for the next bus. Originally slated for 2023 with ambitious plans for an all-electric fleet, 10-minute frequency and end-of-line park and rides, the Rapid routes — formerly known as MetroRapid — will launch with reduced service and diesel vehicles instead of battery-powered. (KUT News)
2024 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos MSA Monthly Air Quality Index Levels
Go to AirCentralTexas.org for a more detailed breakdown of air quality conditions by pollutant and location.
Air quality trends in January 2025 were improved compared to those of January 2023, when the region experienced 27 good days and four moderate days.
Through February 23, we've had 18 good days and five moderate days, with four of those days due to PM2.5 and one day due to ozone.
Access the Air Quality Index (AQI) forecast using most weather apps or visit AirNow.gov for localized information.
Learn how these pollutants can affect public health:
Share the Air Central Texas newsletter with your friends, family, and coworkers to help people understand the risk of poor air quality and how their actions can affect our breathable air.
Make an air quality commitment to improve our local air quality, today!
