HealthyPeople 2010 goal - Environmental Health Sub-Objective 8-2. Increase use of alternative modes of transportation to reduce motor vehicle emissions and improve the Nation’s air quality.
Update on the progress: Bicycling has moved 11% AWAY from target goal, walking has moved 59% TOWARD target goal, and transit has moved 11% AWAY from target goal.
Progress of goal: Increasing the number of trips made by walking (8-2b) achieved 59 percent of the targeted change. Unfortunately no elimination of disparities regarding the goal were mentioned.
Opportunities and challenges facing goal: The overall strategy includes a combination of regulatory, market-based, and voluntary programs that target emissions regarding motorized vehicles. EPA programs address three key air pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and mercury. They aim to reduce smog, fine particles, visibility impairment, and nitrogen and mercury deposition, using a proven, market-based approach that encourages the use of new and cleaner pollution control technologies. Through community assessments local hot spots that may exist will be identified, however, measuring improvements in outdoor air quality and human health remains a challenging issue.
Emerging issues concerning goal: Not all counties have monitoring stations; therefore, data may not be available for some populations. Also, the amount of air pollutants emitted per mile from cars has been greatly reduced. However, these benefits are offset by the continuing increase in vehicle miles traveled and the popularity of light-duty trucks, SUVs, and minivans, which emit more pollution.
H.R.4722 Active Community Transportation Act of 2010 (Introduced in House)
Title: To direct the Secretary of Transportation to carry out an active transportation investment program to encourage a mode shift to active transportations within selected communities by providing safe and convenient options to bicycle and walk for routine travel, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] (introduced 3/2/2010)
Cosponsors (first 5 out of 73): Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] 3/16/2010; Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] 4/13/2010; Rep Carnahan, Russ [MO-3], 3/2/2010; Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] 4/13/2010; Rep Connolly, Gerald E. "Gerry" [VA-11] 4/14/2010.
Latest Major Action: 3/3/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Recommendation: Vote Yes for H.R. 4722 Active Community Transportation Act of 2010
My Political Representative(s): Congressman James L. Oberstar
I picked this exact same objective; I think it is an important objective that would also tie into other objectives. For example, using other forms of transportation could also improve the air quality.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like a lot of our other group members have this same goal. I think it is very interesting because of the emerging challenges that can arise. Especially in MN where the weather can have a big influence because of the four seasons.
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting to see how many different bills are out there in order to achieve the objective of finding alternative modes of transportation! Hopefully, this will get us to where we need to be going in the future!
ReplyDeleteI also chose this objective, it is interesting to see that this is obviously an important issue if multiple people from our group has chosen it. I look forward to the different information we all bring to the table the further we go into this project. I think alternate modes of transportation is going to be a key factor in making a change to improve our air quality, and hopefully others who read our posts will be encouraged to use these alternatives.
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting to see how many people chose the same goals and objectives, I think this class is definitely having an effect on everyone's concerns about the environment. It's great though! I like how the bill makes sure to address SAFE routes, because that is a big concern.
ReplyDeleteI think that this objective could be difficult in Minnesota, because of how cold and snowy it gets during the winter! A lot of people want to drive to beat the cold. I hope people start to realize the damage they do when they drive to work alone instead of carpooling and riding the bus.
ReplyDeleteIt's disappointing to see that we've moved 11% AWAY from the transit and bicycling target goals. I hope that they start advertising such alternatives more, and find some way to start achieving this objective. I vote YES for this goal!!!!
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