1,000 Companies Miss Deadline for Ride-Sharing

More than 1,000 companies failed to meet the deadline for submitting ride-sharing plans to air quality officials, it was announced Tuesday. Firms with more than 100 employees had until June 30 to present a car-pooling plan to South Coast Air Quality Management District officials in El Monte.

Air quality officials require all medium and large businesses to outline how they plan to motivate employees to give up their solo commutes to work. Some companies have offered an extra day off for carpoolers.

AQMD officials received 7,278 ride-sharing plans since the program was expanded to include businesses with 100 to 199 employees as of January, 1990. Before that, only companies with 200 or more workers were required to submit plans. Air quality officials have approved plans from 6,126 firms and are reviewing 1,751 others. The AQMD wants to see an average 1.5 people in every car between 6 and 10 a.m.

The air quality agency audits some businesses to make sure they are sticking to their carpool programs.