Get Children Moving and Reduce Exposure to Unhealthy Air
Safe Routes to School and Traffic Pollution
June 2012
S a f e R o u T e S T o S c h o o l
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TheSafeRoutestoSchoolNationalPartnershipwasfoundedin2005andisafast-growingnetworkofmorethan550groupsworkingtosetgoals,sharebestpractices,leverageinfrastructureandprogramfundingandadvancepolicychangetohelpagenciesthatimplementSafeRoutestoSchoolprogramsacrossthenation.
Authors
TheSafeRoutestoSchoolNationalPartnershipandConsultingforHealth,Air,Nature,&aGreenerEnvironment,LLC(CHANGE)collaboratedtowritethisresourceguidetoensureitincludedperspectivesonairquality,children’shealthandSafeRoutestoSchool.Authorsinclude:
• TimothyR.McAuley,MS,PhD,ChiefExecutiveManager,CHANGE
• MargoPedroso,DeputyDirector,SafeRoutestoSchoolNationalPartnership
Funders
Thispublicationwasmadepossiblebygrantnumber5U38HM000459-04fromtheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention,throughfundingfromtheCDC/NCEHHealthyCommunityDesignInitiative.FundingwasadministeredthroughacontractwiththeAmericanPublicHealthAssociation.Itscontentsaresolelytheresponsibilityoftheauthorsanddonotnecessarilyrepresenttheof f icialviewsoftheCentersforDiseaseControlandPreventionortheAmericanPublicHealthAssociation.
T h e N a t i o n a l Pa r t n e r s h i p ’ s m i s s i o n i s t o
a d v o c a t e f o r s a f e w a l k i n g a n d b i c y c l i n g
t o a n d f r o m s c h o o l s , a n d i n d a i l y l i f e ,
t o i m p r o v e t h e h e a l t h a n d w e l l - b e i n g o f
A m e r i c a ’ s c h i l d r e n a n d t o f o s t e r t h e c r e a t i o n
o f l i v a b l e , s u s t a i n a b l e c o m m u n i t i e s . T h e
N a t i o n a l Pa r t n e r s h i p i s h o s t e d b y B i k e s
B e l o n g F o u n d a t i o n , a 5 01(c )(3) n o n - p r o f i t
w h i c h i s a s i s t e r o r g a n i z a t i o n t o B i k e s
B e l o n g C o a l i t i o n .
F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , p l e a s e v i s i t
www.saferoutespartnership.org.
This resource guide was issued by the Safe Routes to School National Partnership
acknowledgements
3Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
Introduction........................................................................................................................4TheBasicsofTrafficPollutionandChildren’sExposure........................................................6TheScientificEvidence:WhatWeKnowAboutTrafficPollution,PhysicalActivityandtheImpactonChildren’sHealth....................................................................10 TheHealthRisksofExposuretoTrafficPollutionandDisproportionateEffectson
Lower-IncomeSchools.............................................................................................10 ThePositiveImpactsofPhysicalActivity..................................................................12 WeighingtheBenefitsandRisks..............................................................................13StrategiesandPracticestoReduceExposuretoTrafficPollution.......................................16 Choosinglower-trafficroutesforwalkingandbicycling...........................................17 Portland,Oregon:SharingtheRoad....................................................................18 WashingtonStateandOmaha,Nebraska:MappingLow-TrafficRoutes toSchool..............................................................................................................19 Cambridge,UnitedKingdom:AWeb-BasedSolution......................................... 20 LinkstoAdditionalResources...............................................................................21 Shiftingcartripstowalkingandbicyclingthrougheducationand encouragement....................................................................................................... 22 ZOOMKidsontheMove,Europe:FootprintsforaGreenerWorld........................ 22 Eagan,Minnesota:MakingtheHealthyChoicetheEasyChoice........................... 23 TravelwiseNI,NorthernIreland:ANationalWalktoSchoolStrategy.................. 24 LinkstoAdditionalResources.............................................................................. 25 Reducingtrafficvolumesthroughinfrastructure..................................................... 26 Eugene,Oregon:MakinganOlderSchoolSafeforWalkingandBicycling........... 27 LinkstoSchools,UnitedKingdom:PrioritizingTraffic-FreeInfrastructurefor Children............................................................................................................... 27 LinkstoAdditionalResources.............................................................................. 29 Limitingidlingonschoolgrounds........................................................................... 30 ArizonaDepartmentofEnvironmentalQuality:Implementing StrategiestoPreventSchoolBusIdling............................................................... 30 CleanAirCampaign,Georgia:GettingParentstoTurnOffTheirEngines.............31 LinkstoAdditionalResources.............................................................................. 33 Reducingdieselexhaustaroundschools................................................................. 34 CleanAirSchoolBusProgram,NewYork:FundingSchoolBusRetrofits...............35 NorthRichmond,California:RoutingDieselTrucksAwayfromSchoolsand ResidentialAreas................................................................................................. 36 LinkstoAdditionalResources...............................................................................37 Sitingschoolsinlow-pollutionandaccessiblelocations.......................................... 38 California:SitingSchoolsAwayfromHighways................................................... 38 Providence,RhodeIsland:SavingaHistoricNeighborhoodSchool...................... 39 LinkstoAdditionalResources...............................................................................41Conclusion........................................................................................................................ 42References....................................................................................................................... 43
Table of Contents
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Thetriptoschoolhaschangeddramaticallyinthepast40years.Insteadofstreamsofchildrenwalkingandbicyclingtoandfromschool,todayschooladministratorsstruggletomanageaback-upofcarsandbuses,withtime-pressedparentsandbusdriverstryingtodropof fchildrenattheschoolentrance.Approximately45percentofchildrentodayaredriventoschoolbytheirparentsand39percentrideschoolbuses,whichcostsschooldistrictsandfamiliesbillionsofdollarsingasolineeachyear.And,just13percentofchildrenintheUnitedStatesages5to14walkorbicycletoandfromschool—downfromnearly50percentin1969.1Inaddition,eachyearmorethan250childrenarekilledandapproximately23,000areinjuredwhentheyarestruckbycarswhilewalkingandbicycling.2Thesedeathsandinjuriescosthundredsofmillionsofdollarsannuallyinmedicalcostsandwork-losscosts.3
ThefederalSafeRoutestoSchoolprogramseekstoreversethesetrendsandgetmorechildrentosafelywalkandbicycletoandfromschool.ThroughtheSafe,Accountable,Flexible,Ef f icientTransportationEquityAct:ALegacyforUsers(SAFETEA-LU)federaltransportationlaw,Congresshasprovidedapproximately$1.1billionforSafeRoutestoSchoolsince2005.Thevastmajorityoffundsarespentoninfrastructureimprovementsnearschools,suchassidewalks,paths,crosswalks,schoolzonesignageandtraf f iccalming.Asmallshareoffundingisforprogramstoteachchildrentraf f icsafetyskills,traf f icenforcementaroundschoolsandencouragementactivities.
Thelow-costinfrastructureimprovements,suchassidewalks,crosswalks,schoolzonesignageandtraf f iccalming,madethroughSafeRoutestoSchoolcanreducetraf f icdeathsandinjuries.Forexample,addingasidewalkreducestheriskbymorethan50percentthatapedestrianwillbestruckbyacar.4Thesetypesofsafetyimprovementscanalsohelpschooldistrictsmanageschoolbusingcostsbyreducingthenecessityofbusingchildrenduetotraf f ichazards.And,bygettingmorechildrenwalkingandbicycling,SafeRoutestoSchoolinitiativescanreducetraf f iccongestionaroundschoolsandincreasechildren’sphysicalactivitylevels,whichiscriticalforreducingthehealthcarecostsassociated withobesity.
Introduction
5I n t r o d u c t i o n
Clearly,therearestrongbenef itstoimplementingaSafeRoutestoSchoolprogram.Practitionersalsoneedtounderstandandaddresspossibleriskstochildrenfromseekingtoincreasetheirratesofwalkingandbicyclingtoschool.Onepotentialareaofriskisexposuretotraf f ic-relatedairpollution(calledtraf f icpollutioninthisreport),butithasbeenunder-examinedthusfar.Thispublicationseekstonarrowthatknowledgegapbyexaminingthefollowing:
• Thehealthimpactsonchildrenfromexposuretotraf f icpollution
• HowSafeRoutestoSchoolprogramscanpotentiallyimpactchildren’sexposuretotraf f icpollution
• Strategiesandpracticeapproachesthatcanmitigateexposuretotraf f icpollution
BecauseSafeRoutestoSchoolfocusesonincreasingwalkingandbicycling,therebydecreasingthenumberofvehiclesaroundschoolsthatareemittingtraf f icpollution,thereisanaturallinkbetweenef fortstoincreasewalkingandbicyclingandef fortstoreducetraf f icpollution.However,itisimportantforSafeRoutestoSchoolpractitionerstobeawareofthecomplexitiesofhowtraf f icpollutionworkssothattheycanminimizechildren’sexposure.
SomeairqualitystrategiesandpracticesarerelativelysimpletoincorporateintoSafeRoutestoSchoolprograms,suchasschooldistrictnoidlingzonesorselectinglow-traf f icroutesforthewalkroutetoschool.Otherpractices,suchasretrof ittingschoolbuseswithcleanerburningfuelsorsitingschoolswithinneighborhoodswillrequiregreaterresourcesandleadership.ItisourhopethatthisresourceguidewillhelpSafeRoutestoSchoolpractitionersbemoreintentionalaboutreducingthepotentialrisksofexposuretotraf f icpollutionsothatparticipatingchildrenandfamiliescanbephysicallyactivein cleanerair.
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T h i s i s w h e r e t h e p u l l - o u t q u o t e w o u l d b e
p l a ce d: C o l o ra d o s t a t u t e 2 2-32-13 6 (2 0 0 5)
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p h y s i c a l a c t i v i t y.
Traf f ic is a major source of outdoor air pollution. Traf f ic pollution is a combination of many dif ferent types of compounds that are emitted into the air when fossil fuel (gas or diesel) is burned as a vehicle accelerates or idles. Higher concentrations of traf f ic pollution are typically found near the roadway. As a result, these higher concentrations can af fect those driving or riding in cars and buses and those walking or bicycling on sidewalks or bike lanes next to the road.
Common types of traf f ic pollution include particle pollution, such as f ine and ultrafine particulate matter; nitrogen oxides (NOx); hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), including carcinogens such as benzene and formaldehyde; volatile organic compounds (VOCs); carbon monoxide (CO); and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In addition, two of these types of traf f ic pollutants, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, produce ozone (O3) when they mix in the presence of sunlight. [See page 8 for additional information.] Results of scientif ic studies have shown that short- and long-term exposure to these emissions may cause adverse health ef fects, particularly in sensitive populations, such as children, the elderly, low-income populations and individuals with pre-existing medical conditions including asthma or cardiovascular disease.
Researchers have come to these f indings through a variety of studies that attempt to better understand how people are exposed to traf f ic pollution. Researchers often track people using various types of personal exposure monitors. These monitors measure the amount of pollution people are exposed to as they travel around in their daily lives. Depending on the study design, researchers may also collect pollution data at f ixed locations throughout the study area. This allows the researchers to measure pollution levels in dif ferent areas and then compare these measurements with those from the personal exposure
The Basics of Traffic Pollution and children’s exposure
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monitors.
Atthesimplestlevel,aperson’sexposuretotraf f icpollutionisdeterminedbytheconcentrationofpollutants(withhigherpollutantlevelsgenerallyoccurringclosertohigh-traf f icroads)andthelengthoftheexposure.However,thestudiesarecomplicated.Itisdif f icultforresearcherstoseparateexposuretotraf f ic-relatedairpollutionfromexposuretoairpollutionfromavarietyofothersources,suchaspowerplantsorindustrialfactories.Plus,otherfactors,suchashowthetraf f icpollutantsdisperse,windpatternsandweather,plusvolumeandf lowoftraf f ic,allaf fecttheextentofexposuresovertime.
Specif ictothetriptoschool,therearemanyvariablesthatmakeitdif f iculttodeterminewhetherchildrenwalkingorbicyclingtoschoolaremoreorlesspronetotraf f icpollutionexposures.Forexample,carorbusridestoschoolduringtraf f iccongestioncanmeanthatchildrenspendalongertimeridingthantheywouldwalkingorbicycling,whichincreasestheexposureforthechildreninthecarorbus.Forchildrenwalkingorbicycling,parentsmaychoosearoutetoschoolthatisabitlonger,butusestrailsawayfromroadsorlow-traf f icsidestreetsforthetrip,whichreducesexposuretotraf f icbutmayincreasethelengthofthetrip.Inspiteofthesecomplexities,itisclearthattravelinginlesscongestedareasviaanymodeoftransportationcanbehelpfulinreducingunnecessaryexposurestotraf f icpollution.
Techniquestolessenexposuretotraf f icpollutionfocusononeoftwoapproaches:
• Decreasingtheconcentrationofpollutants
• Reducingthedurationoftheexposure
Withinthesetwoapproachesaremanytactics.Reducingthenumberofdriversontheroadbyencouragingthemtoshif ttripstowalking,bicyclingormasstransit(orschoolbuses)candecreasetheconcentrationofpollutants.Askingdriverstoshutof ftheircarsorbusesinsteadofidlingatschoolcanalsodecreasetraf f icpollution.Selectinglower-traf f icroutes,whetherwalking,bicyclingordriving,meanslessexposuretothemoreconcentratedpollutantsalongbusyroads.Becausechildrenareexposedtotraf f icpollutionwhethertheyaresittinginacarorabus,orwalkingorbicycling,manyef fortstoreduceexposuretoandtheconcentrationoftraf f icpollutionwillbenef itallchildrenonthetriptoandfromschool,regardlessoftheirselectedwayofgettingtoschool.
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S a f e R o u T e S T o S c h o o l
Components of Traffic Pollution
Fine particles: Particlescreatedbycombustionsourcestypicallyfromdieselfuels.Theyareformedfromothersmallerparticlesthatcombinetocreatelargerparticlesastheyaredispersedawayfromtheroadway.Studieshavefoundf ineparticlesatspecif icmassconcentrationstobecorrelatedwithadversehealthimpacts.
Ultrafine particles: Particlesformedfromcombustionoffueltypicallyfoundtobeveryhighinnumberconcentrationsclosertotheroadway. Theseparticlescancombinetogethertoformlargerparticlesastheydisperseawayfromtheroadside.Theyaresmallerthanf ineparticlesandthereismoreconcernoverthenumberofparticles,butresearchonwhatnumberconcentrationcanbecorrelatedwithhealthimpactsisunknown.
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): Gaseouspollutantscreatedthroughcombustionoffuel.Fuelcombustionemitsnitrogenoxide,whichreactswithozonetoformnitrogendioxide.Nitrogendioxidehasbeenshowntocauseadversehealthimpactsunderdif ferentexposureconditionswithsensitivesubjects.
Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs): Toxicairpollutants,alsoknownashazardousairpollutants,arethosepollutantsthatareknownorsuspectedtocausecancerorotherserioushealthef fects,suchasreproductiveef fectsorbir thdefects,oradverseenvironmentalef fects.TheUSEPAworkswithstate,localandtribalgovernmentstoreducereleasesof187pollutantstotheenvironment,someofwhichareassociatedwithtraf f icpollution.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Gaseouspollutantsemittedduringcombustionoffuel.Thesecompoundsarehighlyvolatileandtendtoevaporatereadily.Atgreaterdistancesawayfromtheroadside,theytendtobeverylowinconcentrations.
Carbon Monoxide (CO): Colorless,odorless,gaseouspollutantgeneratedfromfuelcombustion.
Ozone (O3): Gaseouspollutantassociatedwithtraf f ic.Ozoneisformedatgroundlevelprimarilywhenvolatileorganiccompoundsandnitrogenoxidescombineinthepresenceofsunlight.
Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): Gaseouspollutantsemittedasaresultoffuelcombustion.Thesepollutantsconsistofseveraldif ferenttypesofcompounds.
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T h i s i s w h e r e t h e p u l l - o u t q u o t e w o u l d b e
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The Health Risks of Exposure to Traffic Pollution and Disproportionate Effects on Lower-Income Schools
Traf f ic pollution studies typically involve measuring and/or modeling a selection of traf f ic pollutants to better understand the amount of pollution and the potential health impacts from various concentrations and length of exposures. In the past few years, several epidemiological studies have linked exposure to traf f ic pollution with dif ferent health ef fects in children.
Table 1. Traf f icvolumebasedonvehiclesperdayandrelativecorrelationtolow,mediumorhightraf f iccounts
Total Vehicles per Day Traf fic Count Designation0-25,000 Low
25,0000-45,000 Medium45,000ormore High
Studies have shown that children who live near busy roadways tend to have increased exposures to various levels of traf f ic pollution and negative impacts on their respiratory health. While the definitions of what constitutes a busy roadway often dif fers across studies, researchers generally consider major roadways to be those with a steady stream of traf f ic throughout the day, as opposed to roadways that only have higher volumes a few times a day during peak travel. See Table 1 for an approximation of how vehicle counts relate to road volume. Studies assessing exposures to children living closer to roadways have found increased exposures to various traffic pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide,5
The Scientific evidence: What We Know about Traffic Pollution, Physical activity and the Impact on children’s health
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ultraf inedieselparticles,6carbonmonoxide7andf ineparticulatematter.8Othermobile-sourceair-toxicpollutants,suchasvolatileorganiccompoundsandvariouspotentiallycarcinogeniccompounds,havebeenshowntobeelevatednearroadsides,underheavytraf f icconditions.9,10,11
Healthef fectscanincludeshort-termsymptomslikeachroniccoughorbronchitis,theexacerbationofexistingillnesseslikeasthmaorlong-termef fectsonoveralllungfunction.12Gaudermanetal.(2004)foundthatchildrenexposedtonitrogendioxideandf ineparticulatematterhaddailysymptomsaswellasasignif icantdecreaseinlungfunctionandgrowth.Sincelungdevelopmentisnearlycompletebyage18,childrenwithlungdef icitsarelikelytohavediminishedlungfunctionfortherestoftheirlives.13Thesef indingsshowinganegativehealthimpactofexposuretotraf f icpollutionareconsistentwithstudiesacrossarangeoftraf f icpollutants,includingf ineparticulatematter,14,15,16ultraf inedieselexhaustparticles,17,18,19nitrogendioxide20,21,22andcarbonmonoxide.23,24Resultsfromsomerecentstudieshaveshownthatexposurestonear-roadsidepolyaromatichydrocarbonshavecausedelevatedasthmasymptoms,includinginchildrenridingschoolbuses.25AstudybyGehringetal.(2010)showedthatchildrenexposedtof ineparticulatematterandnitrogendioxideinthef irsteightyearsoflifehadasignif icantincreaseintheprevalenceofasthmaandofasthmasymptoms.26
Researchersalsohavehonedinonthepollutiondangerschildren—particularlylower-incomechildren—facewhenatschool.Astudyassessinginner-cityschoolchildrenviapersonalexposuremonitoringofschoolchildrenwithasthmashowedthatexposurestof ineparticulatematterincreasedsame-daywheezing,shortnessofbreathandtotalsymptoms.27AnationalstudyfoundthatapproximatelyoneinthreeU.S.publicschoolsarelocatedin“airpollutiondangerzones”withinaquarter-mileorlessofhighways.28AsimilarstudyofCaliforniaschoolsfoundthat9.5percentofschoolswerelocatedwithin450feetofroadscarryingatleast25,000vehiclesperday.29
ThesameCaliforniastudyalsofoundthatschoolswithhigherlevelsofexposuretotraf f icwereschoolsthatdisproportionatelyservedeconomicallydisadvantagedandnon-whitestudents.Similarf indingswerereportedinastudyofWayneCounty,Detroit,Michigan.Theresultsshowed7.2percentofschoolswerelocatedinhigh-traf f icareasandthatmoretraf f icexposurecorrelatedwithlower-incomeandminoritypopulations.30Lookingabroad,studiesinCanada31andinEurope32havealsofoundthatlower-incomeindividualsliveinandattendschoolsinneighborhoodsthatarelocatedclosertobusyroadways.
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The Positive Impacts of Physical Activity
Today,morethan23millionchildrenandadolescentsintheUnitedStates—nearlyoneinthreeyoungpeople—areeitherobeseoroverweight.33Theobesityratetodayremainsmorethanfourtimeshigheramongchildrenages6to11thanitwas40yearsago.Duringthesameperiod,theratehasmorethantripledforadolescents,ages12to19years.34Obesechildrenareathigherriskforanumberofserioushealthproblems,includinghighcholesterol,highbloodpressure,type2diabetesandasthma.35Obesityisalsoasignif icantcauseofhealthcareexpenses,withapproximatelyone-quarterofhealthcarecostsintheUnitedStatesattributedtoobesity-relatedhealthproblems.36
Alackofphysicalactivityisoneofthemajorcontributorstooverweightandobesity.Justone-thirdofchildrenaregettingtheU.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices’recommendedlevelof60minutesofmoderate-to-vigorousphysicalactivityperday.37Walkingandbicyclingisonewaytogetphysicalactivity,andwalkingorbicyclingtoschoolof fersanef fectivewaytobuildmorephysicalactivityintochildren’slives.Oneevaluationstudyfoundthattwosmalllifestylechanges,forexampleeliminating100kcalperdayfromthedietandwalkinganadditional2,000stepsperday,canhelpaddresschildhoodobesitybypreventingexcessweightgain.38
Anumberofstudieshavedocumentedtheimpactofwalkingandbicyclingtoschoolonchildren’sphysicalactivitylevelsandhealth.Theresultsofthesestudieshaveshownthatchildrenwhowalktoschoolaresignif icantlymorephysicallyactivethroughouttheday39andhavebettercardiovascularf itnessthanchildrenwhoaredriventoschool.4 0,41Arecentstudyfoundthatchildrenwhowalkedorbicycledtoschoolhadlowerbodymassindex(BMIscores)andhigherlevelsofmoderate-to-vigorousphysicalactivity.42
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Weighing the Benefits and Risks
Thereisverylittleresearchpresentlypublishedthatwouldallowforanassessmentofwhetherthebenef itsofphysicalactivityfromwalkingorbicyclinginareasofhightraf f icpollutionoutweighstherisks.Onestudyhasshownthatdif ferenttypesofcommutermodesoftransportation,suchasbicycling,carsandbuses,eachhavedif ferentexposurelevelstovarioustraf f icpollutants.Resultsshowedthatbicyclistsridingonroadstypicallyinhaledmoreultraf inesduetohigherrespirationratesthanthoseridingincarsandbuses,buttheconcentrationoff ineparticulatematterwassimilaracrossallmodesoftransportation.43
Therearealsoafewstudiesusingscientif icmodeling,whereresearchersuseavailabledataandsimulatethepossibleresults,orestimates,inthisarea.However,modelingstudiesaremoregeneralinnature,of tenlookataverageconditionsoverabroaderareaandarenotasubstitutefordirectmeasurementsandexperiments.Forexample,arecentmodelingstudyofsixstatesintheMidwest(Illinois,Indiana,Michigan,Minnesota,OhioandWisconsin)lookedatthesimulatedimpactofshif tingone-halfofallcartripsoflessthanf ivemilestobicycling.Themodelpredictsthattheimprovedairqualityresultingfromlesstraf f icpollutioncombinedwiththeincreasedphysicalactivitywouldresultinhealthcaresavingsofapproximately$8.7billionperyearintheMidwest.4 4Whileamodeledstudylikethissuggeststhatthehealthbenef itsofincreasedphysicalactivityoutweighthehealthrisksofincreasedexposuretotraf f icpollutionacrossalargepopulation,theyarenotspecif icenoughtotakeintoaccountthevariousfactorsthatimpactanindividual’sspecif icrisksandbenef its.
IntheNetherlands,researchersexaminedtheliteratureonairpollution,traf f iccrashesandphysicalactivity,andappliedittoahypotheticalsituationinwhichcitizensswitchedfromdrivingtobicyclingforshorttrips.Theyfound,onaverage,thatthereweresubstantiallylargerphysicalactivityhealthbenef itsfrombicyclingascomparedwithrisksassociatedwithexposuretoairpollutionandvehiclecrashes.45Whiletheseresultsarepromising,itisastudyestimatingrisksbasedonbroadpopulation,healthandgeographicalinformation,whichdoesnotmeanthatthehealthbenef itsoutweightherisksforeveryoneintheNetherlands.
Althoughthereislimitedevidenceweighingtherisksandbenef itsofbeingphysicallyactiveinhightraf f icareas,manyofthestudiesreferencedinthissectiondemonstrateadversehealthimpactsforchildrenexposedtotraf f ic
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pollution.Therefore,SafeRoutestoSchoolpractitionersshouldassumethatwalkingorbicyclingnearbusyroadwayscanleadtoincreasedexposuresandinhalationoftraf f icpollutantsamongschoolchildren.Thehealthef fectsofexposuretotraf f icpollutionwouldlikelybestrongerandmorepronouncedinchildrenwhohaveasthmaorotherrespiratoryconditionsandmayresultinmakingcurrentsymptomsworse.
Totrulyknowiftheairpollutionrisksoutweighthebenef itsofchildrenwalkingandbicycling,therearemanyresearchgapsthatneedtobeaddressed.Currently,thereisvir tuallynoresearchthatusesreal-time,actualmeasurementsoftraf f icpollutioncombinedwithphysicalactivitymeasurementsandshort-andlong-termoutcomedatatodeterminewhetheritishealthieroveralltoreducephysicalactivitylevels,ortobephysicallyactiveinareaswithhighertraf f icpollutionlevels.Andthestudiesthatdoexistareaboutadults,makingitdif f iculttounderstandhowimpactsmayvaryforchildren.Thelackofreal-timemonitoringdataalsopreventsadeeperunderstandingofthelevelsofexposuretotraf f icpollutiondependingontherouteselected,dif ferentweatherandairconditions,dif ferenttimesofdayandthebehaviorsofdif ferentkindsofpollutants.Thesegapsalsomakeitdif f iculttobetterunderstandthehealthef fectsonanotherwisehealthychildascomparedwithanobesechildorachildwithasthma.
Thesedatalimitationscreatedif f icultiesinmakingbroadpronouncementsaboutthehealthbenef itsandrisksofwalkingandbicyclingnearhigh-traf f icareas.Evenwiththeselimitations,thereisenoughevidenceavailableabouttraf f icpollutionanditsef fectonhealthtoallowfamiliestomakesmartdecisionsaboutwheretobicycleandwalk,andforSafeRoutestoSchoolpractitionerstoimplementstrategiesandpracticesthatlimitchildren’sexposuretotraf f icpollution.
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T h i s i s w h e r e t h e p u l l - o u t q u o t e w o u l d b e
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e n s u r i n g t h a t e v e r y s t u d e n t h a s a cce s s t o d a i l y
p h y s i c a l a c t i v i t y.
This section outlines several strategies and practices that can help reduce levels of traf f ic pollution or limit a child’s exposure to traf f ic pollution. Armed with the knowledge in this guide, Safe Routes to School practitioners can seek to implement variations on these examples as a means of encouraging healthy and safe walking and bicycling to school that is also cognizant of traf f ic pollution.
As discussed earlier in this guide, the ways of mitigating exposure to traf f ic pollution are to either decrease the concentration of pollutants or the length of the exposure. The strategy and practice ideas included in this guide reduce exposure to traf f ic pollution in one of three key ways:
• Diminish traf f ic pollutants by either reducing the number of cars, trucks and buses around schools, their pollution output or their idling time
• Limiting children’s exposure to traf f ic pollution by choosing lower-traf f ic, lower-polluted routes or trails to walk or bicycle along
• Reducing the length of the trip to school by carefully choosing school sites near the neighborhoods where children live
Most of these strategy and practice solutions also have other benefits that coincide with Safe Routes to School. For example, reducing traffic volumes or encouraging children to walk along lower-traffic routes has a safety benefit. And, locating schools near the neighborhoods where children live increases the likelihood that more children will walk or bicycle due to the shorter trip.
Each section is organized by the strategy or practice topic and includes an overview of the issue, its potential impact on reducing exposure to traffic pollution and ideas for how to implement solutions within a Safe Routes to School program. Examples are provided from the United States and other countries to illustrate how the strategy or practice could be implemented. Each topic also includes a list of websites for more information.
Strategies and Practices to Reduce exposure to Traffic Pollution
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Choosing lower-traffic routes for walking and bicyclingIngeneral,traf f icpollutionishigherclosertoroadwaysandhighestontheroaditself.Inaddition,busierroadswithmorecarshavehigherpollutionlevels.Armedwiththatbasicandsimpleknowledge,parentsandchildrenhavethepowertoselectroutesforthetriptoschoolthathavelessexposuretotraf f icpollution.Ifthereisachoicebetweenabikelaneontheroadorasidewalkwithnoseparationfromtheroadversusatrailthatislocatedawayfromtheroad,parentswhowanttoreducetraf f icpollutionshouldchoosethetrailasitwillresultinlessexposuretothepollutantsthataremostconcentratedonorimmediatelynexttotheroad.Or,whenplanningtheroutetoschool,parentsshouldoptforlow-traf f icneighborhoodstreetsratherthanamainroadwithahightraf f icvolume,sincethebusierroadshavehigherlevelsofpollution.
Whileitiseasilyunderstandablethatbusierroadshavemorepollution,theef fectofdistancefromtheroadonpollutionlevelscanbecomplex.Numerousstudieshavelookedatthelevelsoftraf f icpollutantsnearroadways.Theconcentrationoftraf f icpollutantstypicallydecreaseastheydispersedownwindandawayfromtheroadway.Typicallywithin350meters(1,050feet)to500meters(1,500feet),traf f icpollutantsareverylowinconcentration.Thelargedecreaseinthetraf f icpollutantsawayfromtheroadwayassumesthattherearenootherroadwaysormobilesourceswithintheshortdistancethatwouldresultinothertraf f icpollutantincreasesofthesepollutants,whichwouldmakeitdif f iculttoassessdecreasesintraf f icpollutants.Withinone-thirdofamilefromtheroadway,nearlyalltraf f icpollutantsareindistinguishablefromoverallairpollutionlevels.4 6
ResearchersinPortlanddidreal-worldexperimentscomparingbikelanesontheroadwithcycletracks,inwhichthebikelaneisseparatedfromtheroadbya10-foot-widelaneofparkedcars.Theyfoundthatthecycletrackshadanywherefrom10percentto40percentlowercountsofultraf ineparticulatematter,partlyfromtheextrafeetofseparationfromtraf f icandpartlybecausethecarsservedasashieldforthebicyclists.47Whileeachtypeoftraf f icpollutantvariessomewhatinhowfaritspreadsawayfromtheroad,clearlythefurtherthedistancefromtheroadthebetterfromatraf f icpollutionperspective.But,evensmalldistancesofseparationcanmakeadif ferenceforsometypesofpollutants.
Whileparentscouldmakethesedecisionsaboutselectinglower-traf f icroutesortrailsawayfromtraf f ic,SafeRoutestoSchoolprogramscouldmakethosedecisionseasier.ManySafeRoutestoSchoolprogramsalreadyproduce
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routemapsidentif yingsaferroutesforwalkingandbicyclingtoschool.Thesemapsof tenpointoutsidewalks,crosswalks,crossingguardsandresidentialstreetswithlesstraf f ic,asalloftheseaspectsmaketheroutesafer.Itwouldbefairlyeasytomodif ythesemapstoalsomarkroutesthatwouldbehealthierfromtheairqualityperspective.Manyofthesewouldlikelyoverlaproutesthataresaferfromatraf f icanalysisaswell.SafeRoutestoSchoolpractitionerscanlooktotheircityorcountypublicworksof f icialsortheirmetropolitanplanningorganizationforinformationabouttraf f iccountsonlocalroads.
Simplyaddingalittleinformationtothemap,suchasmarkingtrailsandlower-traf f icroadsandindicatingtheygenerallyhavelesspollution,wouldhelpparentsmakeinformeddecisionswhenplanningthetriptoschool.Whilesomeofthesewalkingandbicyclingroutesmaybelessdirect,parentsmayf indtheadditionaltimeworthwhiletosafeguardtheirchildren’slungs.Thisisoneoftheeasiestwaystoempowerparentstotakecontrolovertheirchildren’shealthwithouthavingtoinvestsignif icantresourcesinnewinfrastructureortraf f icreductionef forts.
Portland, Oregon: Sharing the Road
ThecityofPortland,Oregonisrenownedforitscommitmenttobicycling.InFebruary2010,thePortlandCityCounciladoptedthePortlandBicyclePlanfor2030,whichsetsagoalthat25percentofalltripswillbemadebybicyclebytheyear2030.Aspartofthecomprehensiveplan,Portlandseekstoincreaseitsnetworkofbicyclefacilities.
OnestrategythatPortlandhasadoptedisthe“NeighborhoodGreenways”concept.Theseareresidentialstreetswithlowtraf f icspeedsandvolumesthataremarkedtogivebicyclistsandpedestrianspriority.The“sharrow”streetmarking,whichispaintedontotheroad,indicatesthatbicyclesandcarsshouldsharethelane,remindsdriversthatbicyclesareallowedonthestreetandprovidesguidancetothebicyclistastoproperpositioningwithinthelane.Aspartoftheupgradetoagreenway,thestreetsareoutf ittedwithspeedbumpsandtraf f icdiverters,whichtendtoencouragedriverstoavoidthestreetsunlessnecessary,shif tingevenmoretraf f ictothemainroadsandof fthegreenways.Becausethestreetsselectedasneighborhoodgreenwaysarealreadylow-volumeroadsandareenhancedwithspeedbumpsandinfrastructurethatfurtherreducestraf f ic,thesegreenwaysareanideallow-pollutionlocationforfamiliesandchildrentosafelywalkandbicycle.
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Inadditiontothesafetyandairpollutionbenef its,theneighborhoodgreenwaysarerelativelyinexpensivetoinstall,simplyrequiringpaintforthestreetmarkings,theadditionofspeedbumpsandimprovementstocrossingsandcurbramps.AsofMarch2011,Portlandhad46milesofneighborhoodgreenwaysinstalled,withanother25milesfundedforinstallationand78moremilesintheplanningphase.
Washington State and Omaha, Nebraska: Mapping Low-Traffic Routes to School
ThestateofWashington’sregulationsrequireschooldistrictstohavesuggestedwalkingrouteplansforanyelementaryschoolwherechildrenwalktoschool.Theplanmustcoveraone-miledistancefromschoolwithsuggestedroutes.Amorerecentlaw,passedin2009,whichgoesintoef fectinSeptember2012,requiresschooldistrictstoestablishwalkingareasforallschoolbuildings.
Tohelpschooldistrictscomplywiththelawsandregulations,theWashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportationproducedaguideforschooladministratorscalled“SchoolWalkandBikeRoutes:AGuideforPlanningandImprovingWalkandBiketoSchoolOptionsforStudents.”Whiletheguidefocusesontraf f icsafetyanddoesnotaddressairquality,therecommendationsintheguideforhowtodevelopwalkingrouteplansmayeasilybeapplied.
Oneofthethreekeypurposesoftherouteplans,asidentif iedbytheguide,istosuggestrouteswiththegreatestphysicalseparationbetweencarsandchildrenwalkingandthatexposechildrentothelowestspeedandlowestvolumesoftraf f ic.Thesearethesamefactorsthatshouldbeconsideredwhenselectinglower-pollutionroutestoschool.Thehandbookprovidesspecif icstep-by-stepinstructionsforhowtoinventorywalkingconditionsaroundtheschoolandrecommendscontactingthepublicworksdepartmenttoidentif ystreetswithhighvolumesoftraf f icthatshouldbeavoided.
Onamuchsimplerlevel,ActivateOmaha,inNebraska,isprovidingsimilarguidancetoparentslookingtoincreasewalkingtoschoolthrough“walkingschoolbuses,”inwhichaparentchaperoneescortsagroupofchildrenonthewalktoschool.ActivateOmahaisfocusedondesigningthebuiltenvironmentsothatmorepeoplecanliveactivelifestyles.Aspartofthismission,ActivateOmahahelpsorganizewalkingschoolbusesandSafeRoutestoSchoolef fortsatschoolsthroughoutthecity.TheWalkingSchoolBusGuidelinesforOrganizersdocumentprovideseasy-to-understandinstructionsforhow
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toplanandstartawalkingschoolbus.Thechecklistincludestipsforavoidingbusy,multi-laneroadsandtoselectrouteswithsidewalksandinfrastructureprovidingchildrenwithasafeplacetowalk.Again,whilethispublicationisnotspecif ictoairpollution,thesetipswillalsoleadtotheselectionofwalkingrouteswithlessexposuretotraf f icpollution.
Cambridge, United Kingdom: A Web-Based Solution
Walkit.comisawebsitethatpromoteswalkingintownsandcitiesthroughouttheUnitedKingdom.ItincludesawalkingrouteplannertoeithergetfrompointAtoBortoplanacircularroutetoallowforanexercisewalk.Usersofthewebsitecaneitherselectadirectrouteora“lessbusy”routetofavorslightlylongerroutesalongquieterstreets.
InpartnershipwiththeCambridgeCityCouncil,walkit.comhasalsopremiereda“lowpollution”optionwhenselectingwalkingroutesinCambridge.ThecityofCambridgeisrequiredbylawtoreduceitstraf f icpollutionlevelsinthecentralpartofthecityandhasdevelopedamulti-facetedplan.Onepartoftheplanistoincreasewalkingandbicyclingforshorttripswithintownandtodosoinawaythatdoesnotincreaseanindividual’sexposuretotraf f icpollutants.
Thecitywasalreadyrequiredtoproduceairqualitymodelingmapsthatmeasurednitrogendioxidepollutionlevelsthroughoutthecity.Ratherthanhavethosemapssitunused,theCambridgeCityCounciloverlaidthepollutionmeasurementsoveramapoftheroadsandpathsinCambridge.Thosemapshavenowbeenmadeavailableonwalkit.com.WhenvisitorstothewebsiteselectthecityofCambridgeandenterinadestination,theycanalsoselectthe“lowpollution”option.Behindthescenes,thetripgeneratorexaminesthevariousroutesforaverageexposuretonitrogendioxideandthelengthtomeasuretheexposurefortheroute.Thealgorithmselectsaroutethatminimizesoverallexposuretotraf f icpollution.
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Links to Additional Resources
Portland, Oregon
PortlandBicyclePlan:http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.c fm?c=44597&
PortlandBureauofTransportation“NeighborhoodGreenways”:http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.c fm?c=50518
PortlandBureauofTransportationBikeMaps: http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.c fm?action=UpdateItem&category_id=748&c=40884
Washington State
SchoolWalkandBikeRoutes:AGuideforPlanningandImprovingWalkandBiketoSchoolOptionsforStudent: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/5463FD69-F7B9-477D-B9AA-D21CEEFCF722/0/SchoolAdminGuide.pdf
Omaha, Nebraska
ActivateOmahaWalkingSchoolBusGuide:http://activateomaha.org/downloads/walkingschoolbuswebbooket.pdf
Cambridge, United Kingdom
WalkItroutemappingtool:http://www.walkit.com
CambridgeCityCouncilairqualityplan:http://www.cambridge.gov.uk /ccm/content/environment-and-rec ycling/pollution-noise-and-nuisance/air-pollution/air-pollution-in-cambridge.en
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Shifting car trips to walking and bicycling through education and encouragementBecausethelargemajorityofchildrenarriveatschoolincarsorbuses,thestreetsaroundtheschoolandtheschoolcampusitselfareof tenchokedwithtraf f ic.Backupsofvehiclesapproachingtheschoolcanresultinlongdelaysforthecarsandbusestotravelshortdistances,allthewhileproducingtraf f icpollution.
AmongchildrenwholivelessthanonemilefromschoolintheUnitedStates,43percentaredriventoschool.4 8Theseshorttripscouldbeshif tedtowalkingandbicycling,signif icantlyreducingthenumberofpollutingvehiclesaroundtheschool.Theseshorttripsarealsohigher-pollutingbecausethef irstfewminutesofdrivingavehicle,whichiscalleda“coldstart,”resultsinhigheremissionswhiletheenginewarmstoitsoptimaltemperature.
Onetechniqueforshif tingtripsfromcarstowalkingandbicyclingisthrougheducationandencouragementprograms.Helpingparentsunderstandtheimpactoftheirchoicesonthehealthoftheirchildrenandotherstudentscanpromptachangeinbehavior.Inaddition,schoolscanhelpencouragemorewalkingandbicyclingtripsthroughspecialevents,suchaswalkingweeks,orbymakingiteasierforparentstochoosethewalkingtrip,suchasthroughwalkingschoolbuses.
WithintheSafeRoutestoSchoolmovementintheUnitedStatesandprogramsinothercountries,therearenumerousexamplesofhoweducationandencouragementinitiativescanincreasewalkingandbicyclingtrips,therebyreducingvehicletraf f icandtraf f icpollution.
ZOOM Kids on the Move, Europe: Footprints for a Greener World
TheClimateAllianceisaEuropeanassociationofmorethan1,600cities,municipalitiesanddistrictsin18Europeancountries,allunitedintheirgoalstoreducegreenhousegasemissionsandprotecttheclimate.AmongitsnumerousstrategiesisZOOMKidsontheMove.Nowinitstenthyear,ZOOMisacoordinatedEurope-widecampaigntoencouragechildrentowalkandbicycletoschooltohelpsavetheplanet.ZOOMhelpschildrentolearnaboutdif ferentmethodsofsustainabletransportationandenvironment.Participatingschoolscandownload
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materialsfromtheZOOMwebsiteandcommittoholdaZOOMactivityweeksometimebetweenAprilandNovember.Duringtheweek,childrenareaskedtowalkandbicycletoandfromschoolasmuchaspossible.Foreachsustainabletrip,childrengettodrawtheirown“greenfootprint ”torepresenttheirgreenwaytoschoolandreceiveagreenstickertoputintheirZOOMstickeralbum.
SchoolscollectallthegreenfootprintsandthenforwardthemtotheClimateAlliance.Eachyear,theClimateAlliancepresentstheaccumulatedfootprintstoarepresentativefromtheUnitedNationsClimateChangeConferencetoshowwhatchildrencancollectivelyaccomplish.In2011,morethan200,000childrenacross25countries(primarilyEuropean)collected2.7milliongreenfootprints;eachonerepresentingawalkingorbicyclingtriptoorfromschoolinjustoneweek.
Whilethisinitiativefocusesonthegreenhousegasandclimatechangeaspectsofwalkingandbicyclingtoandfromschool,itcouldeasilybeadaptedtoalsofocusontheairqualitybenef itsofmakingsustainabletransportationchoices.
Eagan, Minnesota: Making the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice
Eagan,MinnesotaisasuburbofMinneapolis-SaintPaulanditsRedPineElementaryserves950childrenfromthetownandseveralsurroundingfarmingcommunities.Eaganhasanetworkofsidewalksandcrosswalksintheneighborhoodsaroundschool,providingsafeinfrastructureforwalkingandbicycling.
However,inspiteofthesesafefacilities,manyparentswereinthehabitofdrivingtheirchildrentoschool—resultinginsignif icanttraf f icbackupsofmorethan100carsaroundtheschool.Thebackupof tenextendedaquarter-milefromtheschoolandontoanearbyhighway.RedPineElementaryprincipal,GaryAnger,realizedthatSafeRoutestoSchooleducationandencouragementactivitieswerenecessarytoshif tsomeofthesecartripstowalkingandbicycling.
Withasmall$10,000SafeRoutestoSchoolnon-infrastructureaward,theschoolimplementedacomprehensiveencouragementandeducationstrategy.Theschoolf irstproducedaSafeRoutestoSchoolmaptoidentif ysidewalks,crosswalks,schoolpatrolsandsaferwalkingroutes.Childrenincloserneighborhoodswereinvitedtojoinwalkingschoolbusesanddrop-of fzoneswereaddedatthebeginningofthewalkingschoolbusroutestoallow
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childrenfromfartherawaytojointhewalkingschoolbusandreducetraf f icattheschool.Theschoolimplementedtheseprovisionsaspartoftheiref fortsonhealthandphysicalactivity—includingincentivestowalkandrunatrecess,f itnessfairsontheweekendsandbicycledonationstolow-incomechildren.
Withthiscomprehensiveapproach,RedPineElementaryhasmorethandoubledthenumberofchildrenregularlywalkingandbicyclingtoschool—from75to200children.And,thenumberofcarsdroppingchildrenof fatschoolhasdeclinedfrom100carstojust40to45cars—nearlyeliminatingtraf f iccongestionandbackupsaroundtheschool,whichreducesassociatedtraf f icpollution.
Travelwise NI, Northern Ireland: A National Walk to School Strategy
TravelwiseNIisagovernmentinitiativeinNorthernIrelandthatpromotessustainabletransportationoptionsasalternativestotheprivatecar.Itpromotesactivitiessuchaswalking,bicycling,carsharingandusingpublictransportationtoschools,shopsandworkplaces.TravelwiseNIestimatesthatreducingthenumberofcarsonthetriptoschoolby20percentwillreducecongestionandthepotentialforexposuretopollutionatschools.
Specifictoschools,TravelwiseNIprovidesarangeofmaterialsandresourcestoteachersandschoolsandconductsnationwidewalktoschoolcampaignseachyear.Amongtheresourcesprovidedisthe“BestFootForward”teachingtool,whichisacurriculumunitthatteacherscanusetohelpstudentslearnabouttheimpactoftransportationchoices,andresourceguidesforcreatingwalkingschoolbuses.
Eachyear,TravelwiseNIholdstwoannualawareness-raisingevents:WalktoSchoolWeekandWalktoSchoolMonth.Italsohasayear-roundinitiativetopromotewalkingtoschool,calledWalkOnceaWeek(WOW).Theseprogramsencouragechildren,parentsandteacherstoparticipateinwalkingandbicyclingtoschoolandrelatedactivities.In2012,theWalktoSchoolWeektookplacefromMay21stto25th,withthethemeoftakea“StepForwardinTime.”Thisthemeaimstoenhancechildren’sunderstandingoftheimportanceofpreservingtheplanetforfuturegenerations.Itencourageschildrentoconsiderthesignificantcontributiontheycanmakebychoosingamoresustainabletraveloption.InadvanceoftheWalktoSchoolWeek,TravelwiseNIheldapostercontestforchildrentodesignaposterthatwasusedduringtheWalktoSchoolWeek.Theschoolwiththewinningposterdesignerreceivedaprizevoucherworth750poundsforanoutdooradventurecenterorasportsretailer.
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Links to Additional Resources
ZOOM Kids
ClimateAlliance: http://www.klimabuendnis.org/585.html
ZOOMKidsontheMove:http://www.zoom-kidsforclimate.eu/
ZoomKidsontheMove2011Results:http://www.zoom-kidsforclimate.eu/fileadmin/inhalte/Dokumente/englisch/2011/Zoom_%E2%80%93_Kids_on_the_Move_Report_2011.pdf
Eagan, Minnesota
RedPineElementarySafeRoutestoSchoolinitiative: http://www.district196.org/rp/SafeRoutesToSchool.html
Northern Ireland
TravelwiseNIforSchools:http://www.nidirect.gov.uk /index /information-and-services/travel-transport-and-roads/travelwiseni/travelwise-schools.htm
TravelwiseNICurriculumandMaterialsforSchools:http://www.nidirect.gov.uk /index /information-and-services/travel-transport-and-roads/travelwiseni/travelwise-schools/travelwise-teachers/free-schools-resources.htm
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Reducing traffic volumes through infrastructureLackoftraf f icsafetyisoneoftheprimarybarrierstogettingmorechildrenwalkingandbicyclingtoschool.Whensurveyedaboutwalkingtoschool,parentsintheUnitedStatescitelackofsafety,aswellasthedistancetoschool,astheirtoptwobarriers.49Parentsspecif icallyexpressconcernsabouttraf f icspeeds,traf f icvolumes,lackofsidewalksandmissingcrosswalksaskeyhazards.50
Tochangehabitsandshif tmoreschooltripsoutofcarstowalkingandbicycling,itiscriticaltomakeinfrastructureimprovementssothatparentscanbemoreassuredoftheirchildren’ssafety.Therearemanyinfrastructureimprovementsthathavebeenproventoreducepedestrianandbicycledeathsandinjuries.Forexample,pedestriansaremorethantwiceaslikelytobestruckbyacarwhenwalkinginalocationwithoutsidewalksastheyarewhenwalkinginanareawithsidewalks.51Addingspeedhumpsdecreasestheriskthatapedestrianwillbestruckby53percent.52Installingrefugeislandsincrosswalks,whichareprotectedmediansthatallowpedestrianstosafelywaitinthemiddleofthestreetforabreakintraf f icbeforecontinuingtocross,canreducethelikelihoodofpedestrian-vehiclecrashesby66percent.53Simplyincreasingstreetlightingtoimprovevisibilitycanreducepedestrian-vehiclecrashesby59percent.54
Addingthesetypesofinfrastructureimprovementshavebeenshowntoincreasewalkingandbicycling,whichalsoreducesthenumberofpollutingvehicletrips.AstudyofSafeRoutestoSchoolinfrastructureimprovementsinCaliforniafoundthatchildrentravelingthroughpedestrian-friendlyenvironmentsaremorelikelytowalkorbicycletoandfromschool.55Anotherstudyfoundthataf ivepercentincreaseinneighborhoodwalkability(ameasurementthatlooksatthecompletenessofthesidewalknetwork,safetyofstreetcrossings,directnessofroutesandothermeasures)resultedin32.1percentmoreminutesdevotedtophysicallyactivetravelandasixpercentreductioninvehiclemilestraveled.56
AnintegralcomponentofthefederalSafeRoutestoSchoolprogramisbuildinginfrastructureimprovement.Inthisprogram,70percentto90percentofavailablefundsarededicatedtosidewalks,crosswalks,traf f iccalmingandotherinfrastructureimprovementsforbicyclists
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andpedestrians.Thousandsofschoolsaroundthecountryinall50statesarealreadybenef itingfromSafeRoutestoSchoolfundingtomakeroutestoschoolsafer.Thesesafetyimprovementsalsocanincreasewalkingandbicyclingandreducethenumberofcartripstoschool,whichhastheaddedbenef itofpositivelyimpactingairquality.
Eugene, Oregon: Making an Older School Safe for Walking and Bicycling
RooseveltMiddleSchoolinEugene,Oregonislocatedatabusyintersectionwithhightraf f icvolumes.Sincetheschoolwasbuiltin1942,ithasaverysmalldrop-of fzone,resultingintraf f iccongestionaroundtheschoolfromparentvehicles.Thesefactorscombinedwithinadequatesidewalksandcrosswalkspresentedsafetyhazardsforchildren.Parentsapproachedtheschooldistrictsafetymanagerandcitystaf ftoexpresstheirconcernsandtoaskfortheschoolandcitytoapplyforSafeRoutestoSchoolfunding.From2007to2010,RooseveltMiddleSchoolreceivedseveralSafeRoutestoSchoolawardstotaling$600,000toallowthemiddleschooltoaddresssafetyconcerns.
Usingthesefunds,improvementsweremadeatRooseveltMiddleSchoolandf iveotherschoolsthroughoutEugene.Infrastructureimprovementsincludednewwalkingpaths,crosswalksupgradeswithpedestrianrefugesandschoolzonesignage.Throughtheseimprovements,walkingandbicyclingratesatRooseveltMiddleSchoolhavegrownfrom27percentto42percentofallstudents.Thegrowthinwalkingandbicyclinghasresultedin53fewercarspickingupordroppingof fchildreneachday,a24percentreductionintraf f icvolume.Lessidlingandstop-and-goconditionsthatcanresultinhighconcentrationsoftraf f icpollutantsarebenef icialforthereductionoftraf f icemissionandexposures.Inaddition,RooseveltMiddleSchooldesignatedtwoparkinglotsnear(butnotat)theschoolaspreferredparkingareastodivertparentvehiclesawayfromtheimmediateschoolenvironment.
Links to Schools, United Kingdom: Prioritizing Traffic-Free Infrastructure for Children
SustransisacharityintheUnitedKingdomthatisfocusedonsustainabletransportation.In1995,SustransstartedtheNationalCyclingNetworkwithagrantfromtheUnitedKingdom’snationallottery.SustransalsorunstheUnitedKingdom’sSafeRoutestoSchoolprogram.AsofMay2012,theNationalCyclingNetworkfeatured13,400milesofwalkingandcyclingroutes,includingtraf f ic-freepaths,low-traf f icroadsandlanesandon-roadroutes
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signedforbicyclists.Approximately57percentofthepopulationintheUnitedKingdomiswithinonemileorlessofthenetwork.Asawhole,morethanonemillionwalkingandbicyclingjourneystakeplaceeverydayonthenetwork.
In2004,theUnitedKingdom’sDepartmentofTransportprovided£10million(GBP)infundingtoSustranstolinktheNationalCyclingNetworktoschools.Asaresult,Sustranshasconnectedmorethan1,000schoolsin500locationstotheNationalCyclingNetworkthroughtheinstallationofnewbikepaths,pedestriancrossingsandtrafficcalming.Priorityisgiventoimprovementsthatcreatetraffic-freepathsforchildrenthatareseparatedfromroads,althoughsomeprojectsincludeextensivetrafficcalmingandon-roadbicyclelaneswhenatraffic-freealternativeisnotpossible.PartoftherationalefortheDepartmentofTransport’sinvestmentinLinkstoSchoolsistocreatesaferoutestoschoolsthatareprotectedfromtraffic,bothtoimprovesafetyforchildrenaswellastoreducetheirexposuretotrafficpollution.Thesafer,traffic-freerouteshavegivenmoreparentstheconfidencetoallowtheirchildrentotraveltoschoolbyfootandbike.
Inthefirst18monthsoftheproject,LinkstoSchoolsconnected300schoolstothenetwork,benefitting200,000students.Sustransconductedextensivesurveysandcasestudiestodeterminetheimpactoftheproject.Acrossthe19LinkstoSchoolslocationsstudied,asof2005,threemilliontripsperyearwerebeingtakenontheLinkstoSchoolsnetworks,withonemillionofthosetripsreplacingcartrips.Manyofthecasestudieshavespecificdataonthedestinationofnetworkusers.Forexample,inWarwickshire,anewwalkingandbicyclingbridgeconnectedparklandpathstoseveralprimaryandsecondaryschools,withnearlytheentirelengthontraffic-freepaths.Sincetheinstallationofthisinfrastructure,140,000tripsperyeararetakenonthesepaths,with75,000ofthosetripsbychildren.Children’stripstoschoolrepresent49,500ofthosetripsperyear.AschoolofficialinWarwickshireindicatedthatallsixschoolsreachedbytheLinkstoSchoolhaveseennoticeableincreasesinwalkingandbicyclingtoschoolandreductionsintrafficproblemsnearby.
Bycreatingsaferoutestoschools,theLinkstoSchoolsprojectallowsmorechildrentowalkandcycle,whichreducestrafficlevelsandthenumberofcarsoutsideofschools.Withlesscarsanddecreasedcongestion,airqualityhasimprovedandexposurestotrafficpollutantshavebeenreduced.Throughimprovedaccesstoadditionalroutesforchildrentowalkandbicycletoschool,LinkstoSchoolshasallowedmuchwidercommunityaccesstoschools,workplaces,shopsandgreenspaces,furthercompoundingtheairqualitybenefits.
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Links to Additional Resources
Eugene, Oregon
EugeneSafeRoutestoSchoolprogram:http://eugenesrts.org/
Eugeneinfrastructureimprovements:http://eugenesrts.org/news/buildingsaferroutes
United Kingdom
SustransNationalCycleNetwork:http://www.sustrans.org.uk /what-we-do/national-c ycle-network
SustransSafeRoutestoSchoolprogram:http://www.sustrans.org.uk /what-we-do/safe-routes-to-schools
SustransLinkstoSchoolsprogram:http://www.sustrans.org.uk /what-we-do/links-to-schools
LinkstoSchoolscasestudies:http://www.sustrans.org.uk /assets/files/rmu/Links%20to%20Schools%20Publication.pdf
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Limiting idling on school groundsDuetothesheernumberofbusesandvehiclesinvolvedinaschool’sarrivalanddismissaltimeseachday,idlingvehiclescanpresentachallengeforschools.Parentsmaysitintheircarswiththeenginesrunningwhilewaitingfortheirchildrentocomeoutoftheschool.Someschoolshaveevencreateddetailedpick-upproceduresinwhichparentswaittheirturntocollecttheirchildrenintheircars,againwithenginesrunning,whichhasanegativeimpactonairquality.Schoolsbusesalsomayidletheirengineswhilewaitingtopickupordropoffchildren.
Asaresult,theamountoftrafficpollutionatarrivalanddismissalcanbesignificantlyhigherthanothertimesoftheday.And,ascarandbusidlinggenerallyoccursnearthefrontentranceofschools,allchildren,whethertheyarewalking,bicycling,ridingthebusorbeingdrivenbytheirparents,maybeexposedtotrafficpollution.Asnotedearlierinthisresourceguide,exposuretohighconcentrationsoftrafficpollutionmayadverselyaffectchildren’shealth,particularlychildrenwithasthma,allergiesandotherrespiratoryconditions.
No-idlingcampaignshavesprungupinanumberoflocationsaroundthecountrytoencourageorevenrequiredriverstoturnofftheirengineswhilewaitingatschool.Someno-idlingcampaignsfocusonschoolbusesandtrucksthatproducehigherlevelsofsometypesofpollution.Othercampaignstrytoinstillthehabitsofnoidlingintoparentdriversaswell.While,thesecampaignsareoftenrunseparatelyfromSafeRoutestoSchoolinitiatives,SafeRoutestoSchoolpractitionerscouldadoptno-idlingcampaignsaspartoftheirinitiativestohelpensurethatallchildrenattendingtheschoolhavelessexposuretotrafficpollution.Further,idlingformorethan15to30secondsusesmorefuelthanturningofftheengineandrestartingit.Therefore,implementingno-idlingzonescouldpotentiallysaveparentsandschooldistrictsmoneyonfuel.
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality: Implementing Strategies to Prevent School Bus Idling
TheArizonaDepartmentofEnvironmentalQuality(ADEQ)’sOfficeofChildren’sEnvironmentalHealthoperatesanumberofprogramstoaddressairqualityissuesspecifictochildren’shealth.In2004,ADEQbeganaSchoolBusIdlingReductionProgram.Theprograminitiallylaunchedasapilotprograminsevenschooldistricts,buthassinceexpandedtodozensofschooldistrictsthroughoutthestate.Theobjectiveoftheprogramwastoreducechildren’sexposurestodieselemissionsfrombusesthatareidlingattheschools.
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TheArizonaDepartmentofEnvironmentalQualityworkedwithseveralschooldistrictstodraftaschoolbusidlingpolicy,whichschoolboardscouldadopt.Thesamplepolicyrequiresschoolbusdriverstoturnofftheengineoncetheyreachtheschoolandcanonlyturntheenginebackonwhenleaving,unlessspecificexemptionsduetoweatherorsafetyconditionsapply.Schoolbusesalsoarerequiredtoparkatleast100feetfromanyknownoractiveairintakefortheschool.Thesamplepolicyfurtherrecommendsthatschooldistrictsintegrateidlinglimitationrequirementsincontractswithvendorsthatwillbeoperatingvehiclesonschoolcampusesandthattheypostnoidlingsignagethroughoutthecampus,targetedtoschoolbusdrivers,vendorsandparents.
Atthenationallevel,theU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)hasanationalSchoolBusIdleReductionCampaign.TheEPAwebsiteincludesanumberofmaterialsthatcanbehelpfulinimplementingaschoolbusnoidlingcampaign,includingacalculatortodeterminethefuelsavingsforreducingidlingintheschoolbusfleet,asamplenoidlingpolicyandnoidlingpledgecardsforschoolbusdrivers.
Clean Air Campaign, Georgia: Getting Parents to Turn Off Their Engines
TheCleanAirCampaignisaGeorgia-basednonprofitthatworksincontractwiththeGeorgiaDepartmentofTransportation(GDOT)topromotecommon-sensesolutionsthatreducevehiclemilesandtrafficpollution.In2004,theCleanAirCampaignlaunchedanewinitiative,calledtheCleanAirSchoolsprogram.Morethan300schoolsin35schooldistrictsparticipateintheCleanAirSchoolsprogramtocreatesaferandhealthierschoolsthroughminimizingtrafficpollution.
TheCleanAirSchoolsprogramprovidesasuiteofactivitiestohelpchildrentolearnaboutair-qualityandtohelpschoolsreducetraffic.AprimarypartoftheCleanAirSchoolscampaignisitsNoIdlingprogram.FundedbytheUPSFoundationandKaiserPermanente,theNoIdlingprogramfocusesonreducingcarandbusidlingatschools.Participatingschoolsreceivemetalno-idlingsignageforschoolgroundsandeducationalmaterialsforbusdrivers,parentsandstudents,allfreeofcharge.Parentsorschoolpersonnelcanalsodownloadachecklist,surveystomeasuresuccessandsamplenewsletterannouncementsabouttheNoIdlingcampaign.
TwootheractivitiesincludedintheCleanAirSchoolsprogramarethePooltoSchoolprogram,whichencouragesparentstoorganizecarpoolswithotherfamiliestoreducecartripstoschoolandtheRidetheBus!ForCleanAirprogramtoencouragemorechildrentoridetheschoolbusratherthantheirparents’vehicles.TheCleanAirSchoolsprogramalsoprovidessamplelessonplansthatteacherscanusetoinstructtheirstudentsaboutthelinkagesbetweentransportationandairquality.
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InOctober2011,theCleanAirCampaignlaunchedaninauguralCleanCommuteWeektohelpschoolsstarttheircleanaircampaigns.Oneparticipatingschool,HighMeadowsSchoolinRoswell,Georgia,focuseditsCleanCommuteWeekonnoidling.Studentswrotearticlesandmadesignstohelppersuadedriverstostopidling.Theypracticeddeliveringtheirnoidlingmessageinafriendlywayandmarchedthroughthecampusthroughouttheweektourgedriverstoturnofftheirengines.
TheCleanAirCampaign’seffortshavebeensosuccessfulthattheEarthDayNetwork,anationalnonprofit,hastakennotice.TheEarthDayNetworkhasnowlaunchedanationwideNoIdlingCampaign,builtoffoftheCleanAirCampaign’swork.AvailableontheEarthDayNetworkwebsitearesampleschooldistrictpoliciesandtoolkitsforparentsandteachersthatincludedownloadablenoidlingmaterialsandlessonplans.
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Links to Additional Resources
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)
ADEQsampleschoolbusidlingpolicy:http://www.azdeq.gov/ceh/download/bus_idle.pdf
ADEQvideoaboutschoolbusidling:http://www.azdeq.gov/ceh/busvid.html
ADEQanti-idlingtoolkit:http://www.azdeq.gov/ceh/toolkit.html
Additional school bus idling resources
EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)NationalSchoolBus IdleReductionCampaign:http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/antiidling.htm
EPAfuelsavingscalculatorfromreducedschoolbusidling:http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/idle_fuel_calc.htm
Compilationofanti-idlingregulationsthroughoutthenation(bytheCaliforniaAirResourcesBoard):http://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/sbidling/appb.pdf
The Clean Air Campaign
CleanAirSchools:http://www.cleanaircampaign.org/ Your-Schools
OverviewofCleanAirSchoolsprograms:http://www.cleanaircampaign.org/ Your-Schools/Learn-About-Clean-Air-Schools/Programs-Overview
CleanAirSchoolslessonplans:http://www.cleanaircampaign.org/ Your-Schools/Find-Air-Quality-Lesson-Plans-and-Resources
Additional parent idling campaign resources
EarthDayNetworknoidlingtoolkit:http://www.earthday.org/noidling
Anti-idlingprimer(bytheHinkleCharitableFoundation):http://www.thehc f.org/antiidlingprimer.html
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Reducing diesel exhaust around schoolsDieselexhaust,emittedbyschoolbuses,trucks,constructionequipmentandotherheavyvehicles,isaparticularlydangeroustypeoftrafficpollution.Olderdieselenginesemitdozensofhazardousairpollutants,particlesandgases.Inaddition,acomponentofdieselexhaustisblackcarbon,whichisaformofparticulatematterandamajorcontributortoclimatechange.Whilenewdieselenginesarerequiredtobeequippedwithemission-reductiontechnologiesoruseultra-lowsulfurdiesel,thereareolderdieselenginescurrentlyinusethatcontinuetoemithighlevelsofpollution.
Schoolbuses,whichprimarilyusedieselfuel,aredesignedtobeusedformanyyears.Asschoolbusesdeliverchildrentoschoolandpossiblyalsositidlingonschoolgrounds,childrenareexposedtodieselexhaust.Agroundbreakingstudyreleasedin2002foundthatconcentrationsoffineparticulatematterwere5to10timeshigherinsidedieselschoolbusesthanoutsidethebuses.Levelsoffineparticulatematterandblackcarbonwerehigherwhenbuseswereidlingwithdoorsorwindowsopen,whenbusesweretravelinginheavytrafficandparticularlywhenbuseswereidlingwhileloadingandunloadingstudents.57
Olderschoolbusescanberetrofittedwithmodernemission-reductiontechnologiesthathelptrapparticulatematterorfilteroutsomeofthemostharmfulemissions.Schoolbusesalsocanbemodifiedtousealternativefuelssuchasultra-lowsulfurdieselthatburnscleaner.Installingacomprehensivesuiteofemission-reductiontechnologiesandconvertingtoultra-lowsulfurdieselcanreducetheemissionsoffineparticulatematterby90percentandofcarbonmonoxideby50percent.Manystateshavefundingavailabletosupportretrofittingschoolbusestoreduceemissions.
Childrenalsocancomeintocontactwithdieselemissionsiftheschoolislocatednearaport,industrialareaortransportationdepot,withhigherlevelsoftrucksandheavyvehiclesdrivingneartheschool.Giventhehealthrisksposedbydieselexhaust,schooldistrictsandparentsshouldconsiderexaminingnotonlythevolumeoftrafficaroundandatschools,butwhattypesofvehiclesmakeupthattraffic.Thereareafewexamplesofschoolsandcommunitiesworkingtogethertorequestchangesintruckingroutestoavoidsensitiveareaslikeschoolsandresidentialareas.Thiscanbeadifficultundertaking,butsomecommunitieshavebeensuccessful.
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Clean Air School Bus Program, New York: Funding School Bus Retrofits
TheNewYorkStateEnergyResearchandDevelopmentAuthority(NYSERDA)isastategovernmentagencychargedwithhelpingNewYorkreduceenergyconsumption,increasetheuseofrenewableenergysourcesandprotecttheenvironment.OneofitsmanyinitiativesistheCleanAirBusProgram,whichprovidesfundingtoschooldistrictsandcommunitiestohelpthemretrofitschoolbuseswithadvancedemission-reducingequipmentortopurchaseclean-fueledbuses.TheCleanAirSchoolBusProgramseekstomaximizetheenvironmental,economicandenergybenefitsthroughreducingemissionsinNewYorkStateschoolbuses.
Grantscovertheentirecostofretrofittingaschoolbusandupto$100,000perschooldistrictisavailable.Thusfar,NYSERDAhasawarded$7.5millionintworoundsofgrantstoretrofitapproximately3,500schoolbusesacrossthestate.Whilethisisanimpressivenumber,itisonlyapproximatelyeightpercentofthestate’sschoolbusfleet.NYSERDAestimatesthattheretrofitshaveresultedinannualemissionreductionsof150,000poundsofhydrocarbons,12,000poundsofparticulatematterandfourmillionpoundsofcarbonmonoxide.Athirdroundoffundingisopenforapplicationsin2012,withanother$2.6millionavailableexclusivelyforretrofits.
Theresultsoftheseretrofitsareclearlydocumentedatthelocallevelaswell.WebsterCentralSchoolDistrictinupstateNewYorkwasanearlyrecipientofCleanAirSchoolBusProgramfunding,whichallowedthedistricttoretrofit74buseswithemissions-controltechnology.Overthelifetimeofeachbus,NYSERDAestimatesasavingsof1,400poundsofparticulatematter,326,000poundsofcarbonmonoxideand13,300poundsofhydrocarbons.LongBeachCitySchoolDistrictreceiveda$1.2milliongranttopurchase20newschoolbusesfueledbycompressednaturalgas(CNG),toretrofit18existingbuseswithCNGandtocreateaCNGfuelingstation.TheWebsterCentralSchoolDistricthasthedistinctionofbeingthefirstschooldistrictinthestatetooperateanentirefleetofclean-fueledschoolbuses.ThenewCNGbusesandretrofittingofcurrentschoolbusesoverthelifetimeofthevehicleswillresultinemissionreductionsof4.8millionpoundsofpollutants,alongwith505,000gallonsofpetroleum.
Acrossthenation,manystatesprovidefundingforschoolbusretrofits,whicharegenerallyprovidedthroughthestate’senvironmentalprotectionagency.Inaddition,theU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)alsoprovidesannualfundingtoeachstateforavarietyofcleandieselprojectsandretrofits.Statescanusetheirfundingforawiderangeofcleandieselprojects,includingschoolbusretrofits.Inaddition,
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theEPAregularlyholdsanationalgrantcompetitioninitsNationalCleanDieselFundingAssistanceProgramtosupportdieselretrofitsonawiderangeofvehicles,includingschoolbuses.Schooldistrictsandmunicipalitiesareamongtheeligibleentitiesandcompetedforapproximately$20millioninFY2012.
North Richmond, California: Routing Diesel Trucks Away from Schools and Residential Areas
NorthRichmond,CaliforniaisasmallcommunitylocatedinthecityofRichmondwithintheSanFranciscoBayarea.Becausethecityincludesanumberofindustrialfacilities,includingaChevronrefinery,highnumbersoftruckstravelthroughthecommunitytogettothenearbyRichmondParkway,amajortransportationcorridor.Thesetrucksoftenusedlocalstreets,causingtrafficpollution,noiseandpedestriansafetyproblemsforstudentsatVerdeElementarySchoolandnearbyresidentialneighborhoods.
Toaddresstheseconcerns,theContraCostaCountyRedevelopmentAgencysecuredaplanninggrantfromtheCaliforniaDepartmentofTransportationtoallowittoconductatruckroutestudyinNorthRichmond.ThefinalTruckRouteStudyfocusedonidentifyingawaytochanneltruckstomajortransportationcorridorswhileminimizingtheimpactonVerdeElementarySchoolandresidents.TheCountyRedevelopmentAgencyconductedapreliminaryassessmentofpotentialroutesandpartneredwithfourlocalcommunity-basedorganizationstogetinputfromlocalresidentsandbusinesses.
ThestudyultimatelyrecommendedaroutethatskirtedexistingresidentialareasandVerdeElementarySchoolandconnectedtruckswithexistingdesignatedtruckroutes.Reducingandreroutingthetrucktrafficawayfromneighborhoodstreetsandincloseproximitytotheschoolwillreduceexposurestoseveraltrafficpollutantsattheschoolandwhenwalkingandbicyclingtoandfromschool.
Therecommendedrouteisbrokenintotwophases.Thefirstphase,meanttoredirecttruckswithoutwaitingyearsforconstruction,includedaddingsignagetonotifytruckdriversoftruckingrestrictions,speedbumpsandgreaterlevelsofpoliceenforcementatacostofapproximately$100,000.ThesecondphaseinvolvestheconstructionofanewstreetsegmentalongtherailwaytoconnecttrucksdirectlywithRichmondParkwayandavoidingthecommunityaltogether.Thisprojectisestimatedtocostapproximately$22millionandisawaitingtheidentificationofafundingsourcebeforeitcanmoveforward.
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Links to Additional Resources
Diesel Health Impacts
DieselHealthinAmericareport(producedbyTheCleanAirTaskForce):http://www.catf.us/resources/publications/files/Diesel_Health_in_America.pdf
MapofDieselSootHealthImpacts:http://www.catf.us/diesel/dieselhealth/
Children’sExposuretoDieselExhaustonSchoolBusesreport(producedbyEnvironment&HumanHealth,Inc.):http://www.ehhi.org/reports/diesel/
New York State Energy Research and Development Agency (NYSERDA)
OverviewoftheNYSERDACleanAirSchoolBusprogram:http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/en/Page-Sections/Research-and-Development/Alternative-Fuel-Vehicles/Clean-Air-School-Bus-Program.aspx?sc_database=web
2012applicationforNYSERDACleanAirSchoolBusprogram:http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/Funding-Opportunities/Current-Funding-Opportunities/PON-1896-New-York-State-Clean-Air-School-Bus-Program.aspx
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Diesel Retrofit funding
EPA’sCleanDieselGrantstoStates:http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/projects/proj-state.htm
EPA’sNationalCleanDieselFundingAssistanceProgramgrants: http://www.epa.gov/diesel/prgnational.htm
North Richmond, California
ContraCostaCountyoverviewoftheNorthRichmondTruckRoutestudyproject:http://www.ccreach.org/ccc_redevelopment/nr_majorProjects_truckroute.c fm
NorthRichmondTruckRouteStudyexecutivesummary:http://www.ccreach.org/ccc_redevelopment/NR_documents/NR%20Truck%20Route%20Exec%20Summary.pdf
NorthRichmondTraf f icandCirculationmemorandum:http://northrichmondplan.info/images/Traf fic%20and%20circulation.pdf
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Siting schools in low-pollution and accessible locationsAnationalstudyexaminedthelocationsofschoolsinmajorurbanareasinrelationtohighwaysandthenextrapolatedthefindingsnationwide.ThestudyestimatesthatapproximatelyoneoutofeverythreeschoolsintheUnitedStatesarein“airpollutiondangerzones,”whichmeanstheyarelocatedwithinaquarter-mileofamajorhighway.58Asschooldistrictsbuildnewschools,thelocationanditsproximitytomajorroadwaystoavoidhighpollutionlevelsisanimportantconsideration.
Maximizingthedistancebetweenschoolsitesandhigher-volumeroadwayswillgreatlyreducethelevelofexposuresthatchildrenmayhavetotrafficpollutants.Prevailingwinddirection,however,canhavealargeimpactonhowmuchtrafficpollutiontowhichchildrenmaybeexposed.Forexample,trafficpollutionwillhavelessofanimpactonaschoolthatisclosertotheroadway,butupwindofthetraffic(windisblowingovertheschoolandtowardtheroadway)thanaschoolthatisfurtherfromtheroadwayanddownwindofthetraffic(windblowspollutantsfromroadwaytowardschool).
Thelocationoftheschoolrelativetothestudentsitservesisanotherimportantconsideration.Largerschoolsontheoutskirtsofcommunitiesmakeitdifficultforfamiliestowalkandbicycletoandfromschoolandrequiretheuseofhighervolumesofbusesandpersonalvehiclestotransportchildren.Asaresult,theseschoolsmighthavehigherlevelsoftrafficpollutioninthevicinityoftheschool.TheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyfoundthatschoolslocatednearorwithintheneighborhoodsofitsstudentpopulationreducetraffic,producea13percentincreaseinwalkingandbicyclingandreducevehiclemilesandtrafficpollutionemissionsbyatleast15percent.59
California: Siting Schools Away from Highways
TwoCaliforniastudiesfocusingonschoolsandtrafficpollutioncompletedin2003clearlydemonstratedthedangersoflocatingschoolsnearhighways.Onestudytookpollutionmeasurementsat10schoolsinAlamedaCounty(SanFranciscoBayarea)andsurveyedchildrenabouttheirhealth.Theresultsshowedthatchildrenatschoolslocatedclosertohighwayshadhigherlevelsofrespiratoryhealthproblems.60AnotherstudymappedCaliforniaschoolsandtheirproximitytohigh-trafficroads.Theresultsfoundthat9.5percentofschoolswerelocatedwithin450feetofroadscarryingatleast25,000vehiclesperday.61
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PreliminaryfindingsfromthesestudiespromptedtheCalifornialegislaturetopassS.B.352in2003.Thelawprohibitsnewschoolsfrombeingsitedwithin500feetofahighwayorbusyroadway,unlessairpollutionmodelingcanshowthattheairqualityattheproposedsitedoesnotpresentashort-termorlong-termhealthrisktostudents.
InApril2005,theCaliforniaAirResourcesBoardissuedanAirQualityandLandUseHandbooktohelpschoolboardsandcommunitiesunderstandandevaluatethehealthimpactsofairpollutionfromawiderangeofsources.Sectionsofthehandbookgivespecificrecommendationsforlocatingfacilitiesthatservesensitivepopulations,suchasdaycarecenters,awayfromhighways.Thehandbookalsodiscussestheregulationsthatspecificallyapplytoschools.
GuidancefromtheCaliforniastategovernmenthasworkeditswaydowntothelocalagenciesthatmustimplementthelawsandregulations.Forexample,theSouthCoastAirQualityManagementDistrict,whichistheairpollutioncontrolagencyforOrangeCounty,LosAngelesCountyandseveralothernearbycounties,hasissuedanextensiveguidancedocumenttohelpschooldistrictsunderstandthenumerousschoolsitingrequirementsandrecommendations.Theguidancedocumenthelpsensurethatschooldistrictsselectschoolsitesthatminimizeasmuchaspossiblechildren’sexposuretotrafficpollution.
Whileafewotherstates,suchasGeorgiaorNorthCarolina,recommendorsuggestthatschooldistrictsseeksitesforschoolsthatareawayfromhigh-trafficlocations,Californiaisthestatewiththemostadvancedrestrictions.
Providence, Rhode Island: Saving a Historic Neighborhood School
In2006,NathanBishopMiddleSchoolontheEastSideofProvidence,RhodeIslandwastargetedforclosureduetoshrinkingenrollmentsandlowstudentachievement.TheschoolboardintendedtodemolishthestructureandbuildanewhighschoolelsewhereinProvidence.Otherschoolsiteswouldlikelyhaveincreasedthedistancefromtheschooltoresidences,resultingingreaterlevelsofdriving.
Originallybuiltin1921,theschoolwasahistoricbuildingandalong-standingcenterofthecommunity.Parentsandresidentslaunchedacampaigntosavetheschoolandinundatedtheschoolboardwithpleastoreconsiderthedecision.Afterhearinginputfromhundredsofresidents,then-SuperintendentDonnieEvansannouncedthatNathanBishopMiddleSchoolwouldberenovatedintoastate-of-the-artschoolandusegreentechniquestomaketheschoolenvironmentallysustainableandsavemoneyonannualutilitycosts.Theenvironmentallyfriendlyrenovationdesign
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receivedthe2009“RhodyAwardforHistoricPreservation”fromtheRhodeIslandHistoricalPreservationandHeritageCommission.Therenovationprojectcost$33million,whichwas$11millionlessthanestimatestobuildanewschoolatanotherlocation.
Theschoolre-openedforthe2009-2010schoolyeartogreatacclaimfromresidents.Manyparentshavemovedstudentsfromprivateschoolsbackintothepublicschoolsystem.Becausenearly80percentoftheschool’sstudentscomefromthenearbyneighborhoods,distancesareshortenoughforstudentstowalkandbicycletoschool.Theschoolhaslocatedbicycleracksatthebuilding’smainentrancesandwalkwaysandbicyclelanesconnecttheschooltothenearbyresidentialareas.
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Links to Additional Resources
California
LegislativetextofS.B.352:http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/03-04/bill/sen/sb_0351-0400/sb_352_bill_20031003_chaptered.html
CaliforniaDepartmentofEducation’simplementationmemoonS.B.352:http://www.cashnet.org/resource-center/resourcefiles/344.pdf
CaliforniaAirResourcesBoardAirQualityandLandUseHandbook:http://www.arb.ca.gov/ch/handbook.pdf
Californiafactsheetforschoolsabouttraf f icpollution:http://www.oehha.ca.gov/public_info/facts/pdf/Factsheetschools.pdf
Californiafactsheetforparentsabouttraf f icpollution:http://www.oehha.ca.gov/public_info/facts/pdf/Factsheetparent.pdf
SouthCoastAirQualityManagementDistrictguidancedocumentonairqualityissuesinschoolsiteselection:http://www.aqmd.gov/prdas/aqguide/doc /School_Guidance.pdf
Providence, Rhode Island
NathanBishopMiddleSchool’sgreenbuildingfeatures:http://neep.org/uploads/polic y/HPSE/Nathan%20Bishop%20RIDE%20Handout.pdf
Other school siting resources
NationalPolicy&LegalAnalysisNetworktoPreventChildhoodObesity(NPLAN)sampleschoolsitingpolicies:http://www.nplanonline.org/nplan/healthy-school-siting
NationalTrustforHistoricPreservation’sschoolsitingresources:http://www.preservationnation.org/information-center/saving-a-place/historic-schools/
U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency’sVoluntarySchoolSitingGuidelines:http://www.epa.gov/schools/siting/
PlanningforSchoolsandLivableCommunities:TheOregonSchoolSitingHandbook:http://www.oregon.gov/LCD/TGM/docs/schoolsitinghandbook.pdf?ga=t
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T h i s i s w h e r e t h e p u l l - o u t q u o t e w o u l d b e
p l a ce d: C o l o ra d o s t a t u t e 2 2-32-13 6 (2 0 0 5)
e n c o u ra g e s l o c a l d i s t r i c t s t o a d o p t a p o l i c y
e n s u r i n g t h a t e v e r y s t u d e n t h a s a cce s s t o d a i l y
p h y s i c a l a c t i v i t y.
A large body of research clearly links exposure to traf f ic pollution with signif icant health risks, particularly for children. Those ef fects are even more acute in children with health problems like asthma. Because Safe Routes to School practitioners are seeking to encourage more children to walk and bicycle to increase physical activity and safety, it is important to also be aware of the risks of exercising in high-pollution areas and to take steps to reduce those risks.
As this guide describes, there are many solutions to reduce children’s exposure to traf f ic pollution—and most of these solutions provide co-benefits with the goals of Safe Routes to School initiatives. There is a true synergy between ef forts to reduce exposure to traf f ic emissions and Safe Routes to School, because many of the pollution reduction techniques also have additional health and safety benefits.
Incorporating air pollution reduction goals into Safe Routes to School initiatives will improve students’ health and could help attract new partners or potential funders focused on the environment and air quality protection. Attention to improved air quality also adds to the benefits of Safe Routes to School, which can attract more families and children who are motivated by health to walk and bicycle to school and to become active in creating sustainable changes that improve the built environment and benefit air quality.
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership hopes this guide inspires practitioners around the country to pursue actions that reduce traf f ic pollution while also encouraging and enabling more children to safely walk and bicycle in cleaner air. We believe that so doing will help breathe new life into Safe Routes to School initiatives, which have already proven to increase physical activity and improve safety. Through the added lens of attention to air quality, Safe Routes to School practitioners will know that they are doing all they can to ensure that children are safe and healthy on the trip to school.
conclusion
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References
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3 Lawrence,Bruce,SomaBhattacharya,EduwardZaloshnja,PaulJones,TedMiller,PhaedraCorsoandClaudiaSteiner.“MedicalandWorkLossCostEstimationMethodsfortheWISQUARSCostofInjuryModule.”Calverton,MD:Pacif icInstituteforResearchandEvaluation(PIRE),September2009.
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11 Spengler,John,JamsonLwebuga-Mukasa,JoseVallarino,SteveMelly,SteveChillrud,JoelBakerandTaekoMinegishi.“AirtoxicsexposuresfromvehicleemissionsataU.S.bordercrossing:Buf faloBridgeStudy.”Boston,MA:HealthEf fectsInstitute(HEI),July2011.
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June 2012
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