Incorporating Health into the MassDOT Project Development Process Massachusetts Healthy Transportation Compact
Incorporating Health into the
MassDOT Project Development
Process
Massachusetts Healthy Transportation Compact
July 18, 2014
1 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot July 18, 2014
Introduction
Major tool for incorporating health outcomes in major decisions is the health impact assessment (HIA), defined as:
“a systematic process that uses an array of data sources and analytic methods, and considers input from stakeholders to determine the potential effects of a proposed policy, plan, program, or project on the health of a population and the distribution of those effects within the population.”
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Published HIA’s have identified positive health-oriented outcomes associated with:
Reducing vehicle miles traveled
Expanding public transportation
Promoting active transportation
Incorporating healthy community design features
Improving safety for all users
Ensuring equitable access to transportation networks
2 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot July 18, 2014
Project Development Process
Planning Study
(Recommendations)
Environmental Study
(Preliminary Design)
Final Design
(Full Design)
Funding Process
(Metropolitan Planning Organization)
Implementation
(Services, Construction)
3 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot July 18, 2014
Planning, Permitting & Design
Level of Detail
E
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S
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S
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N
C
R
Planning Study
(Recommendations)
Environmental Study
(Preliminary Design)
Final Design
(Full Design)
Degree of Freedom
E
A
S
E
D
E
C
R
S
4 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot July 18, 2014
Planning Study Components
Planning Study
(Recommendations)
1. Study Area, Goals &
Objectives, Evaluation
Criteria, Public
Participation
2. Existing Conditions and Issues Evaluation
3. Alternatives
Development
4. Alternatives Analysis
5. Recommendations
6. Final Report
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Existing health-related elements
Promote active transportation modes
Improve safety for all users
Improve public transportation
Avoid or minimize possible air quality impacts
Avoid or minimize possible noise impacts
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Resources
Healthy transportation policy directive
MassDOT GIS datalayers
MassGIS datalayers
Police crash reports
Site visits (intersection diagrams & photos)
Travel demand models
5 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot July 18, 2014
Environmental Study Components
Environmental Study
(Preliminary Design)
1. Purpose & Need
2. Description of
Alternatives
3. Evaluation of
Environmental
Impacts & Mitigation
4. Preferred Alternative
5. Final Report & Draft
Certificate
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Existing health-related elements
Promote active transportation modes
Improve safety for all users
Improve public transportation
Develop mitigation for air quality impacts
Develop mitigation for noise impacts
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Resources
Healthy transportation policy directive
Site survey
Police crash reports
Detailed noise study
Mesoscale & microscale air quality analyses
Travel demand models
6 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot July 18, 2014
Final Design Components
Final Design
(Full Design)
1. 75% Design Plans
2. 100% Design Plans
3. Specifications
4. Estimates
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Existing health-related elements
Accommodate active transportation modes
Address safety issues by meeting design standards
Design air quality mitigation measures
Design noise mitigation measures
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Resources
Healthy transportation policy directive
MassDOT design guide
AASHTO policy on geometric design of highways & streets
NACTO urban street design guide
7 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot July 18, 2014
Incorporating Health in Planning Studies
Planning Study
(Recommendations)
1. Study Area, Goals &
Objectives, Evaluation
Criteria, Public
Participation
2. Existing Conditions and Issues Evaluation
3. Alternatives
Development
4. Alternatives Analysis
5. Recommendations
6. Final Report
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How do we avoid or minimize health impacts from transportation projects?
Include health effects in the evaluation criteria
Collect public health information within the project study area
Evaluate potential alternatives based on health determinants
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What resources are needed at this step?
Public health GIS datalayers (by ZIP code?)
8 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot July 18, 2014
Incorporating Health in Enviro. Studies
Environmental Study
(Preliminary Design)
1. Purpose & Need
2. Description of
Alternatives
3. Evaluation of
Environmental
Impacts & Mitigation
4. Preferred Alternative
5. Final Report & Draft
Certificate
How do we mitigate the health impacts from transportation projects?
What resources are needed at this step?
9 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot July 18, 2014
Incorporating Health in Final Design
Final Design
(Full Design)
1. 75% Design Plans
2. 100% Design Plans
3. Specifications
4. Estimates
How do we design healthy transportation infrastructure?
What resources are needed at this step?
10 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot July 18, 2014
Questions?
Next Steps?
11 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot July 18, 2014
