MARC’s WAY TO GO launches 18th annual Green Commute Challenge

Sep 23, 2026
| Posted in
Transportation
A person carrying a bike to a covered bus stop where other people wait

Participants and media can attend the Sept. 28 kickoff lunch to learn more about commuting to reduce air pollution and offset rising gas prices

WAY TO GO, a program of the Mid-America Regional Council, is calling on commuters, employers and schools across the bistate region to join the 18th Annual Green Commute Challenge. This free, month-long campaign runs Oct. 1–31 and rewards participants for not driving alone. Since 2008, more than 7,000 people from over 100 organizations have recorded green trips by cycling, carpooling, walking, rolling, scooting or riding transit to help improve regional air quality.

Enjoy the Journey - Take greener ways to work this October. Way to Go Green Commute Challenge

Media, sponsors and participants are invited to attend the kickoff luncheon at noon Monday, Sept. 28, at Mid-America Regional Council’s office, 801 Pennsylvania Ave. in downtown Kansas City. Registration is required. 

The luncheon is a chance to engage directly with the people powering the region's sustainable commuting campaign and see firsthand how simple changes can add up to cleaner air, lower traffic congestion and a healthier community. 

“More than half of the emissions behind ozone pollution come from everyday activities, such as driving,” said Lynelle Haugabrook, WAY TO GO program coordinator. “This makes the challenge a direct, measurable response to a public health concern, and momentum is already building. Plus, green commuting choices don’t just benefit air quality. They can also save people money on fuel and vehicle expenses.”

Riding a Wave of FIFA World Cup 2026™ Momentum

WAY TO GO's outreach ahead of the soccer tournament helped change how the region gets around:

  • App membership growth jumped nearly 43% in a single month.
  • Active WAY TO GO members are up 26% compared to 2025.
  • Organization participation climbed 35% year-over-year comparing January–July across years.

“Those gains didn't happen by accident,” Haugabrook said. “The Kansas City region demonstrated the power of coordinated transportation investments. The Green Commute Challenge is a chance to build on that momentum long after the crowds have gone home.”

How it works

Participation in the Green Commute Challenge is free and open to individuals, employers, schools and local governments across nine counties: Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami, and Wyandotte in Kansas; and Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray in Missouri. Participants must be at least 18 years old.

To join:

  1. Visit my.waytogokc.org to create a profile on the WAY TO GO desktop or mobile app.
  2. Join a team — create a community team, or an employer/school team (add your employer or school to your profile to be matched automatically).
  3. Start recording green trips on the WAY TO GO app beginning Oct. 1.

Interested participants can register for the lunch online or sign up to participate in the challenge at waytogokc.org/gcc.

Register Now
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