Suzanne K. Condon, Associate Commissioner / Director, Bureau of Environmental Health

1. Suzanne K. Condon, Associate Commissioner / Director, Bureau of Environmental Health Margaret Round, Chief, Air Toxics, Bureau of Environmental Health

2. Outline • Transportation Reform in Massachusetts • Review of HIA steps and Grounding McGrath Scoping and Assessment • Pathways and Indicators Evaluated in HIA • Review of Baseline Data • Assessment of Health Impacts • Findings and Recommendations • Summary and Next Steps

3. Healthy Transportation Compact I. Transportation Reform in Massachusetts • Under M.G.L. Chapter 6C, Section 33 the Healthy Transportation Compact is directed to: • (v) establish methods to implement the use of health impact assessments (HIAs) to determine the effect of transportation projects on public health and vulnerable populations; and • (x) institute a health impact assessment for use by planners, transportation administrators, public health administrators and developers. • Transportation planning projects often have a range of health implications that are not uniformly considered but can be now with EPHT data • MDPH was awarded funds from the RWJ/Pew Health Impact Project to conduct a transportation-related HIA

4. Overall Goal to Meet HIA Directives of Transportation Reform • The goal of the proposed transportation-related HIA project is to work together with MassDOT, EEA and other community representatives to:

5. II. Review of HIA Steps and Grounding McGrath Scoping and Assessment Steps of HIA • Screening- Determines the need and value of a HIA • Scoping - Determines which health impacts to evaluate, methods for analysis and a work plan • Assessment- Provides a profile of existing health conditions and evaluation of potential health impacts • Recommendations – Provides strategies to manage identified adverse health impacts • Reporting- Includes the development of the HIA report and communication of findings and recommendations • Monitoring - Tracks the impact on decision-making processes and the decision and the impacts of the decision on health determinants

6. Selection of MassDOT “Grounding McGrath” Study • MDPH/BEH worked with MassDOT and other members of the HTC staff to determine that the pilot HIA will inform MassDOT’s “Grounding McGrath” Study in Somerville, MA • Overall this transportation project aims to determine the future of the Route 28 corridor • MassDOT indicated that the size of the investment necessary to restore the highway provided an opportunity to evaluate the feasibility, benefits, impacts, and costs of removing at least a portion of the elevated structure on Route 28/McGrath Highway • MassDOT’s existing study protocol lends uniquely to the HIA process including establishment of an Advisory Group composed of community representatives to evaluate alternatives

7. III. Pathways and Indicators Evaluated in HIA Air Quality: What are the public health impacts/benefits associated with changes in: • Air pollution from vehicles including technology changes • Proximity within 200 meters of roadway (for indirect measure of ultrafine particles and higher gradient of vehicle emissions) • Elevation of corridor Noise: What are the public health impacts/benefits associated with changes in: • Noise along corridor and adjacent streets from increases in vehicle in intersections, proximity, and technology changes • Elevation of corridor Mobility and connectivity: What are the public health impacts/benefits associated with changes in: • Vehicle use on corridor • Vehicle use in adjacent areas • Pedestrian/bicycle use • Access and use of public transportation (e.g., transit buses, Green Line Extension) • Regional and local linkages via mode of transport (e.g., Union Square, Inner Belt and Brickbottom)

8. Pathway and Indicators Evaluating in the HIA (continued) Public SafetyWhat are the public health impacts/benefits associated with changes in: • Injuries and fatalities associated with vehicle collisions • Crime and fear of crime Land Use and Economic DevelopmentWhat are the public health impacts/benefits associated with changes in: • Local business investment • Access to goods (e.g., grocery store, pharmacy) and services (e.g., health care providers, schools, libraries) • Housing and affordable housing (including possibility of gentrification and displacement) • Land use (e.g., Inner Belt and Brickbottom) • Availability and access to parks, open space, and community path • Transportation costs • Preservation of historical and cultural resources

9. Data Sources and Methods • Geographic boundaries • Grounding McGrath Design Alternatives • Demographic data • Environmental Justice • Health data • MassDOT Grounding McGrath criteria and analysis (e.g., CTPS Travel Demand Model)

10. Geographic Boundaries Extended the study area defined in the MassDOT GM Study to the zip code areas adjacent to the McGrath Highway

11. Design Alternatives Evaluated in the Grounding McGrath HIA compared with Existing Conditions in 2010 • Future 2035 No-build • Future 2035 Alternative designs • Boulevard Road Diet • Access Road Linwood Street • Median U-Turn Hybrid • Innerbelt

12. Demographic Data • Affected population • median age distribution, • race and ethnicity, • maximum education level attained, • measures of socioeconomic status (i.e., poverty rate, median household income, unemployment), and • Vulnerable groups defined using EOEEA designation of an Environmental Justice community • The median annual household income is at or below 65 percent of the statewide median income for Massachusetts; or • 25 percent of the residents are minority; or • 25 percent of the residents are foreign born, or • 25 percent of the residents are lacking English language proficiency

13. Environmental Justice Areas

15. IV. Review of Baseline Data • Demographic and Socioeconomic Conditions • Vulnerable Populations • Baseline Health Information

16. Examples of Existing Conditions Selected Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics Selected socioeconomic factors

17. Examples of Existing Conditions Selected housing characteristics and population density Future employment projections in Somerville from 2010 to 2035

18. Baseline Health Data Inpatient hospitalizations and emergency room visits in MA, Somerville, and zip codes abutting McGrath Highway (2010)

19. Baseline Health Data Pediatric asthma rates for k-8th grade students in Somerville (2008-2009)

20. Baseline Health Data Birth characteristics for select census tracts in Somerville, MA (2007) Estimated prevalence of adult obesity, hypertension, Type II diabetes, exercise, and fruit/vegetable intake in Somerville, Ma (2009) • For Somerville as a whole, 43.6% of children were overweight or obese. This compares to 32.4 percent statewide for the same year (MDPH 2012).

21. V. Assessment of Health Impacts • Assessment of health impacts associated with: • Air quality • Mobility and Connectivity • Noise • Public Safety • Land Use and Economic Development

22. Air Quality Change in the number and type of vehicles on corridor (e.g., VMT) Climate Change (change in rainfall, sea-level rise, marine life) Change in heat-related, illness, water-, food-, vector-, or rodent-borne disease Change in the number and type of vehicles on corridor (e.g., VMT) Change in proximity to mobile source emissions Changes in air quality-related diseases: Asthma / other respiratory disease Cardio-vascular diseases and heart attack Low birth weight Change in traffic management on corridor (e.g., congestion) Type of mode Change in air pollution concentrations (PM2.5, PM10, UFPs, VOC, NOx, CO and CO2) Change in exposure of population to mobile source air pollutants Change in McGrath Highway Structure Change in elevation of highway structure Travel time along corridor Change in mode share (e.g., vehicle vs. bike vs. walk vs. transit)

23. Methodology: Air quality

28. Mobility and Connectivity Change in sidewalk space Cardiovascular disease Change in access to open space, parks, recreation Changes in access/ usability of public resources (schools, libraries) Change in vehicle mobility/ congestions Change in number of intersections/crosswalks on corridor Change in mental health (e.g., stress, depression) Change in mobility and connectivity along corridor and adjacent communities Increase in physical activity Change in McGrath Highway Structure Change in access to local goods and services Change in active transportation: physical activity from walking to biking Change in pedestrian and bicycle network Change in obesity, Type II diabetes Change in access to public transit Change in injuries and fatalities (See Safety) Changes in parking availability

29. Methodology: Mobility

32. Methodology: Connectivity • Purpose: Evaluate potential increased physical activity through shifts in travel mode and increased connectivity to nearby areas • Sources of data: Mode share and travel time data for two routes generated from CTPS TDM. Pathways were selected from MassDOT GM Study evaluation criteria. • Results: Potential for increased physical activity by shifting from auto to walking along route compared to MA physical inactivity index as defined as less than 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week

33. Mode Shift Evaluation

34. Connectivity - Results

35. Noise Change in vehicle noise levels due to technology Change in traffic management on corridor (e.g., congestion) Change in exposure to noise Change in health outcomes: Hypertension Annoyance Sleep disturbance Cardiovascular disease Educational outcomes Adverse effects on mental health Change in noise/ vibration levels on corridor and in adjacent areas Change in McGrath Highway Structure Change in number of vehicles on corridor Change in elevation of highway structure

36. Methodology: Noise • Purpose: Screening analysis to determine the spatial extent of noise in the study areas under current, baseline and alternative conditions considering both elevated and de-elevated structure • Sources of data: Identified representative section of roadway with maximum traffic volumes using FHWA Traffic Noise Model v2.5 • Results: Calculated the distance of modeled hourly noise levels that exceed the FHWA’s hourly traffic noise guideline of 57 dBA.

37. Noise - Results

38. Public Safety Change in traffic related injuries & fatalities Change in number and location of accidents and crashes Change in emergency response Change in traffic management corridor Change in access to goods and services Change in crime and public safety Change in McGrath Highway Structure Change in traffic along the corridor and adjacent communities Change in no-traffic related injuries & fatalities Change in perceived safety Change in access/usability of public restrooms Change in pedestrian and bicycle network Change in stress and related mental health outcomes Change in access to open space, parks, and recreation Change in social cohesion

39. Methodology: Public Safety • Purpose: Evaluate potential injuries and fatalities across existing, baseline and alternative conditions • Sources of data: (1) Data on VMT from CTPS TDM as increased volume is associated with higher injuries and fatalities and (2) CTPS TDM expected travel time during average and congested conditions on McGrath Highway to predict changes in public safety vehicle travel across different designs • Results: (1) Comparison of injuries and fatalities based on U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics and (2) tables of average and congested travel time across existing, baseline and alternative conditions.

40. Public Safety - Results VMT AND PREDICTED FATALITIES AND INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH MCGRATH HIGHWAY, 2010 EXISTING CONDITIONS, 2035 NO-BUILD AND ALTERNATIVES

41. Public Safety - Results TRAVEL TIME ALONG MCGRATH HIGHWAY FOR 2010 EXISTING CONDITIONS, 2035 NO-BUILD AND EACH ALTERNATIVE

42. Land Use and Economic Development Change in Environmental impacts (See: air quality, climate change and noise) Change in local business investment Change in ability to care for basic needs Change in Physical activity (see Mobility) Change in availability of affordable housing Change in educational achievements Change in Injuries and fatalities (See: Public safety) Change in access to goods and services Change in social cohesion and shared benefits/burdens Change in McGrath Highway Structure Change in social determinants Change in employment opportunities Change in adequacy of wages, income, and benefits Change in mental health Change in environmental quality Change in property value

43. Methodology: Land Use and Economic Development • Purpose: Assess access to multiple goods and services and green space as a surrogate for land use and economic development • Sources of data: City of Somerville provided maps of existing and planned goods and services, transit, and green space. Access to multiple goods and services within one-quarter mile of McGrath Highway assessment by demographic characteristics • Results: Map of key features (e.g., number of crosswalks, block length, pedestrian walking width) comparing access of existing conditions, baseline and alternatives.

44. Land Use and Economic Development - Results

46. VI. Findings and Recommendations FINDINGS • All future project alternatives, including the 2035 No-build, will result in significant reductions in traffic-related air pollution largely attributed to advancements in vehicle emissions standards and technologies. • Continued support for the implementation of MassDEP efforts to reduce motor-vehicle related emissions including the Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) program, emission control retrofits on diesel buses and construction equipment, and vehicle inspection programs may further improve both local and regional air quality. • Future assessment of health impacts and benefits of proposed project alternatives should be conducted once more robust project-specific information and transportation data become available. Conducting an HIA in tandem with the first phase of a transportation planning study is informative but is limited. • When available, traffic density information can provide a reasonable surrogate for exposure to traffic-related pollutant emissions and should be considered as a viable screening tool in the early phases of the transportation planning process and potential alternative to more resource intensive air quality modeling efforts. • De-elevation of the highway structure is anticipated to result in an increase in ground-level exposure to traffic-related air pollutant emissions (i.e. criteria pollutants, hazardous air pollutants, ultrafine particles). • Thus, implementation of mitigation measures (e.g., locating sidewalks and bike paths further away from the roadway, installation of barriers, planting of trees) based on more comprehensive assessment of air pollution impacts should be explored where possible to reduce exposure to traffic related air pollutants.

47. FINDINGS, cont. • Although detailed designs of all four future alternatives have not been developed at this stage of the GM Study, it is anticipated that all future pedestrian and bicycling networks will conform to the Complete Streets Guidelines and incorporate high quality design elements associated with active transportation. • Efforts to support and maintain improvements to the pedestrian and bicycling network including providing accessibility to disabled are critical. • In addition, support for multifaceted approach to increase active transportation choices within the neighborhoods is vital including consideration of cultural preferences and demographic diversity in Somerville, as well as socioeconomic status of residents • Existing health data resources such as the MDPH Environmental Public Health Tracking portal provide publicly available information on a variety of health outcomes and environmental data that can be readily incorporated into future assessments of existing health conditions and potential health impacts associated with transportation projects

48. RECOMMENDATIONS • Air Quality: CTPS is expected to update the travel survey data and model used to estimate emissions in the Travel Demand Model. As a result, a sensitivity analysis to determine if major changes to the model output will occur when the Travel Demand Model is updated should be considered. • Noise: Although a screening-level analysis of noise impacts in an area with the highest predicted traffic volumes indicated higher noise impacts would be expected with a de-elevated highway structure, a more comprehensive analysis of noise impacts to sensitive receptors from de-elevating the highway within the buffer area is recommended in order to identify areas where noise mitigation may be warranted. • Public Safety • Efforts to support reduced travel speeds and volumes both on the de-elevated highway and in nearby neighborhoods will decrease injuries and fatalities. • Developing and promoting plans with local law enforcement to ensure safety along sidewalks, the bike path and open space will increase likelihood of selecting active transportation options. • Land Use and Economic Development: Given that the study area is classified as an environmental justice community it is critical that long-term plans that involve current residents are developed to ensure affordability of goods and services, stabilization of cost of rental apartments, and employment opportunities are made available.

49. VII. Summary and Next Steps • Based upon data reviewed for the GM HIA the two optimal alternatives are the Boulevard Road Diet Alternative and Innerbelt Alternative because they offer the greatest opportunities for mobility and access • Planning and implementing this HIA provided an opportunity for public health, environmental and transportation agencies to familiarize with data, terminology & overall transportation planning policies • Beginning 4/5/13 MDPH will initiate a 30-day public comment period for the Grounding McGrath HIA • Based on comments and recommendations, MDPH will revise the HIA draft document and make it available to all parties interested in the Grounding McGrath Study & HIA initiatives included in the transportation reform law • MDPH will provide input to the Healthy Transportation Compact to develop criteria for determining which transportation projects might benefit from an HIA