Transcript Slide 1

The Health Impact Assessment (HIA): Promising Best Practices in Transportation
Eloisa Raynault | [email protected] | Transportation, Health and Equity Program Manager | American Public Health Association
TRB 2011 | ADC10 Poster Session | P11-1032
A health impact assessment (HIA) is a set of procedures, methods, and tools by which a policy, program, or project may
be judged as to its potential effects on the health of a population (WHO, 2008).
Portland Columbia River
Crossing
Source: http://portlandobserver.com
San Francisco Still/Lyell
Freeway
Atlanta BeltLine
Source: http://beltline.org
Source: http://www.sfphes.org
SUMMARY:
SUMMARY:
SUMMARY:
An HIA Workgroup chose the Columbia River
Crossing Draft Environmental Impact Statement as
the subject of its first-ever HIA. To satisfy NEPA
requirements, the project focused on meeting
minimum standards for air quality and noise. The
HIA Workgroup believed this was an opportunity to
not simply meet minimum standards, but to
maximize positive impacts on regional health.
PODER (People Organizing to Demand
Environmental & Economic Rights) suspected that
the community was disproportionately exposed to
traffic-related impacts, such as air pollution. The
SFPDH, PODER and other partners developed a
community-based HIA of traffic in this neighborhood.
The Atlanta BeltLine HIA assessed impacts of a
multi-modal transportation system that includes
plans for nearly 30 miles of biking and walking trails
next to a 22-mile Light Rail loop. It evaluated if
access to parks, trails and transit meet the needs of
the existing and future populations, and whether
resulting health benefits are equitably distributed
geographically and demographically.
RESULTS:
RESULTS:
RESULTS:
HIA Findings:
Traffic volumes in 2030 impact air quality, noise
pollution, obesity, and safety.
More public transportation will improve the mobility
of vulnerable populations.
Harmful noise levels from traffic may increase
chronic diseases and decrease cognitive
functioning.
HIA Recommendations:
Reroute cleaner hybrid electric buses to southeast
San Francisco.
Reroute trucks away streets where people in the
community live.
Establish a network of truck routes.
HIA Recommendations:
The creation of an integrated transit system is
required to substantially increase mobility and
walkability.
Public participation increases social capital,
therefore the BeltLine should involve an inclusive
public participation process.
LESSONS LEARNED:
LESSONS LEARNED:
LESSONS LEARNED:
After months of negotiations, CRC planners have
scaled back the crossing to ten lanes from 12. HIA
recommendations included maximizing the use of
Light Rail Transit, safe and accessible bike and
pedestrian facilities and tolling to discourage motor
vehicle use, particularly single occupancy motor
vehicle use.
Use Unique Tools:
•Door-to-door community surveys
•Traffic counts
•Community photography
•Oral histories from residents
•Outdoor air quality and noise modeling
•Publicly available data (census, traffic, health)
More than environmental impact assessments or
quality of life audits, tools like the HIA provide a
measurable link between the places we live and our
overall health.
FREE RESOURCES
ON HIAs
Baltimore Red Line
Minneapolis Lowry Corridor
APHA Reports (Hidden Health
Costs of Transportation)
APHA Monthly Transportation
and Health eNewsletter
APHA HIA Fact Sheets
APHA HIA Webinar Session
Visit www.apha.org
Source: http://gobaltimoreredline.com
Source: http://professional.captus.com/Planning/hia
SUMMARY:
SUMMARY:
The Baltimore Red Line is a proposed 14-mile transit
line. The project proposes various combinations of
tunnel and surface alignments for either Light Rail
Train (LRT), Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), or enhanced
bus service.
The Lowry Corridor HIA focused on a redevelopment
project of a blighted urban corridor into a mixed-use,
pedestrian-friendly area. 18,000 residents in
neighborhoods were affected by this project; health
disparities were associated with concentrated
poverty and unemployment.
RESULTS:
RESULTS:
This HIA showed how accessibility, construction and
air quality issues are key factors influencing health
along the Red Line corridor. Recommendations
included:
•Using Light Rail
•Appointing a public health expert on decisionmaking teams
•Increasing green space
•Using Complete Streets design principles
HIA Recommendations:
•Add pedestrian-level lighting
•Use driver-feedback speed limit signs in pedestrian
and school areas
•Install ‘Share the Road’ signs
•Increase public signage and maps for public transit
routes
LESSONS LEARNED:
LESSONS LEARNED:
An opportunity exists since infrastructure that
supports safe outdoor activities and access to
healthy foods will lead to enhanced population
health. If the Red Line project improves the built
environment to make physical activity and services
more accessible, neighborhoods along the Red Line
corridor could have a healthier future than otherwise.
This HIA helped the project manager obtain funding
for countdown timers at key intersections, bike racks
at key public buildings and markers to encourage
pedestrian traffic.
Practice Standards for HIAs:
Developed to provide practitioners
of HIAs with a set of benchmarks
to guide their own HIA practice,
and to stimulate discussion about
HIA content and quality in this
emerging field.
http://www.sfphes.org/HIA_Practice_Standards.htm