Coweta County's official vehicles may be a lot more ozone-friendly if the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority has anything to do with it.

Last month, county officials received a letter from GRTA executive director Catherine Ross asking the county to join the Partnership for a Smog-Free Georgia and start purchasing lower-emission vehicles.

GRTA was the state agency created last year by the General Assembly to address the economic and health issues of the Atlanta region's poor air quality.

To join the partnership, counties will have to submit a smog reduction plan by April 30, reduce their employees' single-occupant vehicle trips by 20 percent and review operations and maintenance activities during the smog season of May through September.

County Commission Chairman Vernon “Mutt” Hunter said the county had already embarked on purchasing lower-emission vehicles and would do everything that it could do to comply with GRTA's wishes.

County administrator Theron Gay said the county is looking to purchase pickup trucks to replace its aging fleet, but is having problems finding low-emission trucks.

“I don't think that's going to be an excuse. This is mandated by law,” Hunter said.

As far as reducing the single occupant trips, Hunter said the county administration building's parking lot is already serving in that capacity.

“If anywhere is a park and ride lot, it's there. We have a lot of employees parking there who then get into vehicles with other employees to head to their work site,” he said.

Hunter and the other commissioners agreed that the county would comply with GRTA's wishes as best they could.

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