Safe Routes to School and Traffic Pollution

Get Children Moving and Reduce Exposure to Unhealthy Air

June 2012

S a f e R o u T e S T o S c h o o l

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

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.

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.

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

7T h e B a s i c s o f Tr a f f i c P o l l u t i o n a n d C h i l d r e n ’ s E x p o s u r e

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.

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.

9T h e B a s i c s o f Tr a f f i c P o l l u t i o n a n d C h i l d r e n ’ s E x p o s u r e

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

11T h e S c i e n t i f i c E v i d e n c e

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.

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

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

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.

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

17C h o o s i n g l o w e r- t r a f f i c r o u t e s f o r w a l k i n g a n d b i c y c l i n g

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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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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

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

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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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

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.

InOctober2011,theCleanAirCampaignlaunchedaninauguralCleanCommuteWeektohelpschoolsstarttheircleanaircampaigns.Oneparticipatingschool,HighMeadowsSchoolinRoswell,Georgia,focuseditsCleanCommuteWeekonnoidling.Studentswrotearticlesandmadesignstohelppersuadedriverstostopidling.Theypracticeddeliveringtheirnoidlingmessageinafriendlywayandmarchedthroughthecampusthroughouttheweektourgedriverstoturnofftheirengines.

TheCleanAirCampaign’seffortshavebeensosuccessfulthattheEarthDayNetwork,anationalnonprofit,hastakennotice.TheEarthDayNetworkhasnowlaunchedanationwideNoIdlingCampaign,builtoffoftheCleanAirCampaign’swork.AvailableontheEarthDayNetworkwebsitearesampleschooldistrictpoliciesandtoolkitsforparentsandteachersthatincludedownloadablenoidlingmaterialsandlessonplans.

33L i m i t i n g i d l i n g o n s c h o o l g r o u n d s

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

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.

35R e d u c i n g d i e s e l e x h a u s t a r o u n d s c h o o l s

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,

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.

37R e d u c i n g d i e s e l e x h a u s t a r o u n d s c h o o l s

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

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

39S i t i n g s c h o o l s i n l o w - p o l l u t i o n a n d a c c e s s i b l e l o c a t i o n s

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

receivedthe2009“RhodyAwardforHistoricPreservation”fromtheRhodeIslandHistoricalPreservationandHeritageCommission.Therenovationprojectcost$33million,whichwas$11millionlessthanestimatestobuildanewschoolatanotherlocation.

Theschoolre-openedforthe2009-2010schoolyeartogreatacclaimfromresidents.Manyparentshavemovedstudentsfromprivateschoolsbackintothepublicschoolsystem.Becausenearly80percentoftheschool’sstudentscomefromthenearbyneighborhoods,distancesareshortenoughforstudentstowalkandbicycletoschool.Theschoolhaslocatedbicycleracksatthebuilding’smainentrancesandwalkwaysandbicyclelanesconnecttheschooltothenearbyresidentialareas.

41S i t i n g s c h o o l s i n l o w - p o l l u t i o n a n d a c c e s s i b l e l o c a t i o n s

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

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

43 R e f e r e n c e s

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27Spira-Cohen,A,LCChen,MKendall,RLallandGDThurston.“PersonalExposurestoTraf f ic-RelatedAirPollutionandAcuteRespiratoryHealthamongBronxSchoolchildrenwithAsthma.”Environmental Health Perspectives 119,4(2011):559–565.

28Appatova,AS,PRyan,GLeMastersandSGrinshpun.“Proximalexposureofpublicschoolsandstudentstomajorroadways:anationwideUSsurvey,” Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 51,5(2008).

29Green,RochelleS,SvetlanaSmorodinsky,JaniceJKim,RobertMcLaughlinandBartOstro.“ProximityofCaliforniaPublicSchoolstoBusyRoads.”Environmental Health Perspectives 112,1(2004):61–66.

30WuY-CandSABatterman.“ProximityofschoolsinDetroit,Michigantoautomobileandtrucktraf f ic.” Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology 16(2006):457-470.

31Amram,Ofer,RebeccaAbernethy,MichaelBrauer,HughDaviesandRyanWAllen.“ProximityofpublicelementaryschoolstomajorroadsinCanadianurbanareas.”International Journal of Health Geographics 10,68(2011):1–11.

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33NationalHealthandNutritionExaminationSurvey,NHANESResponseRatesandCPSTotals.Atlanta,GA:U.S.CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention.http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/response_rates_CPS.htm (accessedApril2012).

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43Zuurbier,Moniek,GerardHoek,MariekeOldenwening,VirissaLenters,KeesMeliefste,PetervandenHazelandBertBrunekreef.“Commuters’ExposuretoParticulateMatterAirPollutionisAf fectedbyTransport,FuelType,andRoute.”Environmental Health Perspectives 118,6(2010):783–789.

44Grabow,Maggie,ScottNSpak,TraceyHolloway,BrianStone,Jr,AdamCMednickandJonathanA.Patz.“AirQualityandExercise-RelatedHealthBenef itsfromReducedCarTravelintheMidwesternUnitedStates.”Environmental Health Perspectives 120(2012):68–76.

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61Green,RochelleS,SvetlanaSmorodinsky,JaniceJKim,RobertMcLaughlinandBartOstro.“ProximityofCaliforniaPublicSchoolstoBusyRoads.”Environmental Health Perspectives 112,1(2004):61–66.

June 2012

Safe Routes to School National Partnershipwww.saferoutespartnership.org

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Safe Routes to School and Traffic Pollution

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