EMBARQ fosters government-business-civil society partnerships whose members are committed to finding solutions to the transportation-related problems in their cities. Within the framework of these partnerships, EMBARQ is empowered to identify, test, evaluate, and implement reasonable and effective solutions to local transport problems within a three to five year time horizon.

EMBARQ 's business model calls for working partnerships with three major cities every five years, entered into on a staggered basis. This model will ensure EMBARQ 's ability to effectively manage multiple-city projects while still engaging in education, outreach and prospecting for future partner cities.

The staggered initiation of projects, in two-year intervals, will allow appropriate engagement on the part of EMBARQ staff to carry each project through five proposed stages:

• Establishment of a city partnership.
• Creation of a city-based Center for Sustainable Transport in the partner city, staffed primarily by local transport experts.
• Identification of a sustainable transport system appropriate to the partner city.
• Creation of an ambitious, achievable, work plan that measurably improves traffic congestion, air quality, and quality of life for the city's inhabitants.
• Expansion of activities to other cities within the country or region to leverage the capacity and learning created through the initial partnership.