The Health Impact Assessment (HIA): Promising Best Practices in TransportationEloisa Raynault | eloisa.raynault@apha.org | Transportation, Health and Equity Program Manager | American Public Health Association

TRB 2011 | ADC10 Poster Session | P11-1032

Portland Columbia River Crossing

San Francisco Still/Lyell Freeway

Atlanta BeltLine

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.

SUMMARY:

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.

SUMMARY:

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:

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.

RESULTS:

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.

RESULTS:

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:

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.

LESSONS LEARNED:

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)

LESSONS LEARNED:

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.

Source: http://www.sfphes.orgSource: http://portlandobserver.com

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).

Source: http://beltline.org

Baltimore Red Line Minneapolis Lowry Corridor

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.

SUMMARY:

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:

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 decision-making teams

•Increasing green space

•Using Complete Streets design principles

RESULTS:

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:

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.

LESSONS LEARNED:

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.

FREE RESOURCES ON HIAs

APHA Reports (Hidden Health Costs of Transportation)APHA Monthly Transportation and Health eNewsletterAPHA HIA Fact SheetsAPHA HIA Webinar SessionVisit www.apha.org

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

Source: http://professional.captus.com/Planning/hia

Source: http://gobaltimoreredline.com