An HIA of a proposed freeway expansion project in Los Angeles, CA.
Introduction
The Gateway Cities Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) is a corridor-specific study requested by the I-710 Oversight Policy Committee in 2004. Funding for the AQAP has been secured and the study is now underway. It will assess how best to continue to improve air quality and public health by addressing both near-term and long-term measures for emissions reductions for all Gateway Cities. The Gateway Cities Council of Governments (GCCOG) is responsible for preparing the AQAP.
At the request of the I-710 Project Committee, this Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is one component that was added to the original scope of work for the AQAP. It is intended to assess the proposed I-710 Corridor Project alternatives and to evaluate selected health determinants to assess health outcomes linked to proposed actions of each alternative. At the time the AQAP was initiated (and subsequently the HIA), only draft I-710 technical studies were available. As such, the draft I-710 technical studies were used as resource material for input into this HIA.
For the purpose of context, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and its funding partners are preparing the I-710 Corridor Project Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze alternatives for improving Interstate (I-) 710 from Ocean Boulevard in the City of Long Beach to State Route (SR-) 60, a distance of 18 miles.
The purpose and need of the I-710 Corridor Project, as stated in the EIR/EIS Notice of Preparation, are to:
- Improve air quality and public health
- Improve traffic safety
- Address design deficiencies
- Address projected traffic volumes
- Address projected growth in population, employment, and economic activities related to good movement
An HIA is a public engagement and decision-support tool that can be used to assess planning and policy proposals, and make recommendations to improve the health outcomes associated with those proposals. Environmental, social, demographic, and economic conditions drive the health and wellbeing of communities. Factors such as transportation, employment and income, noise, air quality, access to goods and services, and social networks have well-demonstrated and reproducible links to health
outcomes. HIA investigates these relationships in the context of specific policy proposals and makes predictions related to health outcomes through a six-step process.
