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Urban and Green Infrastructure Use to Mitigate Community Air Pollution Impacts from Freight and Other Transportation Sources
Citation:
Baldauf, R. Urban and Green Infrastructure Use to Mitigate Community Air Pollution Impacts from Freight and Other Transportation Sources. AWMA Freight & Environment Workshop, Oakland, CA, April 06 - 07, 2022.
Impact/Purpose:
Freight movement can have significant impacts on air quality, especially at the local scale. Given the increased adverse health effects faced by people living, working and going to school near freight movement sources, mitigating these impacts is a major public health concern. This presentation provides an overview of the use of green and built infrastructure on reducing the impacts of freight movement on local air quality and public health
Description:
Freight movement and the transport sector significantly impact air quality, especially at the local scale. In many cities throughout the world, freight emissions from truck, rail and ship traffic at ports can contribute large amounts of air pollution, including particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions, as well as hundreds of other compounds that negatively impact human health and the environment. Emissions from transportation and freight movement can be especially important since the vast majority of people in the world are exposed to these emissions on a daily basis at home, work and school, whether near the port or along freight movement corridors. Numerous health studies also indicate that people who spend significant amounts of time near large transportation facilities (i.e., highways, marine ports, airports, railyards) face increased adverse health effects including asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancer and premature mortality. In addition, many of the neighborhoods adjacent to these facilities are in overburdened, environmental justice communities. Due to these health concerns, mitigating these local-scale air pollution exposures from freight movement has become an important public health objective. This presentation will provide an overview of research demonstrating how urban built and green infrastructure can be used to mitigate air pollution impacts from freight movement at the local scale including roadside tree and vegetation barriers, noise walls, and fencing. The presentation will also review two pilot studies implemented at a school in Oakland and a community park in Detroit to provide air quality and other benefits for communities adjacent to large truck corridors. Results from this work has been used to develop recommendations and methods for designing and implementing urban and green infrastructure for urban communities