Baltimore-Washington Rail Intermodal Facility Health Impact Assessment
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Baltimore-Washington Rail Intermodal Facility Health Impact Assessment September 2013 Acknowledgements and Disclaimer This project is supported by a grant from the Health Impact Project, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts, with funding from The Kresge Foundation. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, or The Kresge Foundation. The report also does not reflect the views of the agencies that may have participated in the HIA process, including reviewing drafts of the report and/or providing data for the analyses in the report. The authors are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. The authors have no involvements or conflicts of interest that might raise questions of bias in the study results reported. Authors and Contributors Kim Gilhuly, Human Impact Partners Ruth Lindberg, Former Program Manager, Keith Haynes, Maryland State Delegate, National Center for Healthy Housing District 44, Baltimore City (NCHH) Katie Hirono, Health Impact Project Kristina Souders, Research Assistant, Jill Lemke, Economic Development Planner, NCHH Baltimore City Department of Planning Rebecca Morley, Executive Director, NCHH Clifford Mitchell, Director, Environmental Rajiv Bhatia, Project Consultant Health Bureau, Department of Health and Tom Rivard, Project Consultant Mental Hygiene (DHMH) Judith Akoto, Project Coordinator, NCHH Sarah Morris-Compton, Director of the Jonathan Heller, Human Impact Partners Office of Policy and Planning, BCHD Jill Breysse, Senior Project Manager, NCHH Marjorie Owens, President, Wilhelm Park Neighborhood Association The National Center for Healthy Housing Bonnie Phipps, President/CEO, Saint Agnes gratefully acknowledges the following Healthcare persons who advised us in the report’s Rebecca Ruggles, Director, Maryland development and contributed their expertise: Environmental Health Network Nancy Servatius, Environmental Health Aruna Chandran, Chief of Epidemiologic Bureau, DHMH Services, Baltimore City Health Department Madeleine Shea, Former Director, Office of (BCHD) Population Health Improvement, DHMH Keith Davis, Former HIA Planning Bradley Smith, Project Manager, Office of Coordinator, BCHD Freight and Multimodalism, Maryland Andrew Fellows, Vice-Chair of the Department of Transportation (MDOT) Maryland Commission on Environmental Dominic Wiker, Manager, Commercial Justice and Sustainable Communities Development, Office of Real Estate, MDOT Members of the Morrell Park Community Association and the Morrell Park and St. Paul’s Improvement Association helped scope this HIA and refine its recommendations. Cover Photo: Mural on Washington Boulevard. Baltimore-Washington Rail Intermodal Facility Health Impact Assessment: Final Report Page 1 of 129 Table of Contents List of Acronyms Used ................................................................................................................... 5 Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 6 Background .................................................................................................................................. 6 Findings........................................................................................................................................ 6 Priority Recommendations......................................................................................................... 11 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 14 2. Project Background .................................................................................................................. 16 3. HIA Screening .......................................................................................................................... 19 4. HIA Scope and Methods .......................................................................................................... 21 Health Effects Considered ......................................................................................................... 21 Vulnerable Populations .............................................................................................................. 21 Development of Pathway Diagrams and Research Questions ................................................... 22 Community and Stakeholder Input into HIA Scope .................................................................. 22 Health Determinants Considered but Not Addressed ................................................................ 23 Methods...................................................................................................................................... 24 5. Baseline Conditions .................................................................................................................. 28 Profile of the Communities Surrounding the Mount Clare Yard Site ....................................... 28 6. HIA Assessment Findings ........................................................................................................ 32 6.1 Air Quality ........................................................................................................................... 32 6.1.1 The Evidence: Air Quality and Health................................................................................. 32 6.1.2 Existing Conditions: Air Quality ......................................................................................... 34 6.1.3 Projected Impacts of the Intermodal Facility on Air Quality .............................................. 40 6.1.4 Resident Perspectives on Potential Air Quality Impacts ..................................................... 45 6.1.5 Limitations and Data Gaps ................................................................................................... 45 6.1.6 Air Quality: Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................ 46 6.2 Employment ......................................................................................................................... 48 6.2.1 The Evidence: Employment and Health .............................................................................. 48 6.2.2 Existing Conditions: Employment ....................................................................................... 49 6.2.3 Projected Impacts of the Intermodal Facility on Employment and Associated Health Outcomes ................................................................................................................................... 53 Baltimore-Washington Rail Intermodal Facility Health Impact Assessment: Final Report Page 2 of 129 6.2.4 Limitations and Data Gaps................................................................................................... 54 6.2.5 Employment: Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................................. 54 6.3 Neighborhood Resources ..................................................................................................... 56 6.3.1 The Evidence: Neighborhood Resources and Health .......................................................... 56 6.3.2 Existing Conditions: Neighborhood Resources ................................................................... 59 6.3.3 Projected Impacts of the Intermodal Facility on Neighborhood Resources and Associated Health Outcomes ........................................................................................................................ 62 6.3.4 Limitations and Data Gaps................................................................................................... 66 6.3.5 Neighborhood Resources: Conclusions and Recommendations.......................................... 66 6.4 Noise .................................................................................................................................... 69 6.4.1 The Evidence: Noise and Health .......................................................................................... 69 6.4.2 Existing Conditions: Noise .................................................................................................. 72 6.4.3 Projected Impacts of the Intermodal Facility on Noise and Associated Health Outcomes . 73 6.4.4 Limitations and Data Gaps................................................................................................... 74 6.4.5 Noise: Conclusions and Recommendations ......................................................................... 74 6.5 Traffic Safety ....................................................................................................................... 75 6.5.1 The Evidence: Traffic Safety and Health ............................................................................. 75 6.5.2 Existing Conditions: Traffic Safety ..................................................................................... 76 6.5.3 Projected Impacts of the Intermodal Facility on Traffic Safety and Associated Health Outcomes ................................................................................................................................... 78 6.5.4 Limitations and Data Gaps................................................................................................... 81 6.5.5