Humboldt Avenue goes toxic

CA law prevents the siting of a school within 500 feet of a freeway because of the danger from pollution.

In the largest and longest study of its kind, USC researchers have found that children living within 500 feet of busy highways have significant impairments in the development of their lungs that can lead to respiratory problems for the rest of their lives.

The 13-year study of more than 3,600 children in 12 Central and Southern California communities found that the damage from living within 500 yards of a freeway is about the same as that from living in communities with the highest pollution levels.

However major roads like El Camino and Woodside were found in a Sacramento study to be just as toxic which impacts schools along these routes.

This UC Davis study on air pollution found that notwithstanding lower traffic volumes, "heavily traveled secondary highways" are just as toxic as freeways laden with diesel trucks or major rail yards.

Last week the Air Resource Board said on the effects of diesel that "diesel emissions from trucks, machinery and other sources elevate the risk of premature death, cancer, asthma and other chronic diseases for more than 3 million people living in West Oakland and the surrounding region, according to the most detailed study yet on the issue."

The analysis by the California Air Resources Board, released Wednesday night, shows that the greatest health dangers related to toxic air emissions stems from diesel trucks traversing the freeways and other roadways around West Oakland and the Port of Oakland.

The two-year public health inquiry covered a large swath of the Bay Area - an area of 3,800 square miles that is home to 3.1 million people. The residents had an elevated risk of cancer - nearly 1,200 additional cancers per million people due to long-term exposure to diesel particulate matter than people living elsewhere, the study reported in preliminary findings.

As CCAG continues to maintain capacity, neighborhood streets can become toxic. Traffic planners route increased volume onto neighborhood streets. This unfortunately is what happened to Humboldt Avenue in San Mateo.

Citizens are unable to reconcile the toxicity of their actions as this quote verifies- “I think we have acknowledged that a number of concessions have been made,” said Commissioner Alex Feinman. “We won’t please everyone."

Trails in hazardous locations

The bike trail from Holly to Wipple on the east side of 101 is hazardous to our health. The non stop traffic augmented by trucks create an unhealthy dose of toxins that must be equivalent of smoking a pack of cigarettes when walking that short stretch of one mile.

These trails need to be put at least 500 feet away from the freeway. Planners lack a perspective on how pedestrians move. The slower pace of walkers leave them in the hazard zone for much longer periods of time than is safe. People who worry about parking never even notice the smell and noise and toxicity of the freeway over the wall.

The analysis by the California Air Resources Board, shows that the greatest health dangers arises from diesel trucks on the major roads.

While accessing the trail from Holly we are exposed to diesel emission from the unregulated vehicles that are used at San Carlos Airport. These vehicles don’t have the traps that were installed as part of the Carl Moyer Program on city fleets.

Finally getting over Holly at 101 to get to the Airport Way turnoff and then Skyway to get to the trail is another adventure. San Carlos seems to forget that there are recreation opportunities east of El Camino- the Bay.

If CCAG and San Carlos included a healthy element in their general plan and airport landuse documents this type of deplorable situation would not occur. And now that we are stuck with this pack of cigarettes, a health element in the General Plan would ensure measures to reduce the risk. For example Planning for Healthy Places', Healthy General Plan toolkit,
Goal 5 says: Pursue a comprehensive strategy to ensure that residents breathe clean air and drink clean water. And then lists objectives to accomplish this goal:
Objective 5.1: Reduce residents’ reliance on cars.
Rationale: Motor vehicles are often the principle contributors of particulate matter,
nitrogen oxides, and ozone, which contribute to asthma and bronchitis. Roads and
parking lots comprise most of the impervious surface in a metropolitan area, leading
to water-contaminating run-off, with auto leaks and emissions contributing the most
non-point-source pollution in this run-off.
Policies
Adopt mixed-use residential, commercial, and office zoning
• where appropriate to encourage walkability
• Build and maintain safe, pleasant streets for walking and bicycling (see
Objective 3.3)
• Work with regional authorities to improve transit service linking residents
with destinations (such as jobs and retail), especially in underserved neighborhoods
• Prioritize new infill development near transit nodes
• Utilize parking restrictions to deter car use (e.g., parking requirement
maximum rather than minimum, congestion pricing)
Objective 5.2: Protect homes, schools, workplaces, and stores from major sources of outdoor air pollution.
Rationale: Populations in close proximity to noxious land uses are more vulnerable
to respiratory diseases and cancers.
Policies
• Locate stationary emitters (e.g., incinerators, factories, refineries) segregated
and downwind from homes and schools
• Locate sensitive uses, such as schools and family housing, at least 500 feet
from highways (and we should add trails and playgrounds in here.)