As the new home of NCPIRG's environmental work,
Environment North Carolina can be contacted with any questions regarding this
news release.
CHARLOTTE—With
the U.S. House of Representatives poised to consider a more than $300 billion
transportation bill, Charlotte leads the nation in air pollution from cars and
trucks, according to a report released today by NCPIRG. Charlotte ranks 7th
in the nation for the most air pollution from cars and trucks, per capita, among
large cities.
"More Highways,
More Pollution" finds that building new roads will do little to alleviate
traffic congestion in the long run and likely will exacerbate already severe
air pollution problems in cities across the country. According to the report,
cities with the most highways tend to have the worst air pollution from cars
and trucks. Charlotte also ranks 28th for the most highway capacity and 29th
for the most miles driven, per capita, among large cities.
"Charlotte’s roads and air pollution go hand-in-hand," said NCPIRG
Campaign Director Mike Robertshaw, "and the air pollution is linked to
asthma attacks, lung cancer, heart disease and early deaths."
In 2003, Charlotte received a "F" grade from the American Lung Association
for its air quality. Air pollution contributes to asthma attacks, lung cancer,
heart disease and tens of thousands of premature deaths each year. While the
vehicles coming off today’s assembly lines are 80 to 99 percent cleaner
per mile than those of the 1960s, cars and trucks remain a leading source of
air pollution because of the dramatic increase in driving. Since 1970, the number
of vehicle-miles traveled in urban areas has tripled. In Charlotte, people drive
a total of 19,807,000 miles every day, or 27.47 miles per resident per day.
"More Highways, More Pollution" analyzes Federal Highway Administration
and US Environmental Protection Agency data on highway capacity and vehicle
emissions for 314 metropolitan areas in 1999. Key findings include the following:
• Expansion of the nation’s highway network has helped fuel the increase
in driving. Building new roads spurs vehicle travel and alters land-use patterns,
creating new traffic.
• Cities with more major highway capacity per capita have higher levels
of air pollution from vehicles per capita. Charlotte ranks 28th nationwide for
the most highway capacity and seventh for air pollution from vehicles, per capita,
among large metropolitan areas. Increasing highway capacity in Charlotte will
increase air pollution, all other things being equal.
• The average large metropolitan area that expands its highway capacity
by 14.6 percent – the national rate of growth in the 1990s – could
expect a 10.9 percent increase in nitrogen oxides and a 10.7 percent increase
in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), all other things being equal. Both pollutants
contribute to the formation of smog, and many VOCs are toxic to humans.
The report recommends that state and federal officials allocate a greater share
of transportation resources to programs to reduce the growth in the number of
cars on the road and encourage alternative transportation modes, such as transit.
In addition, in cities that violate federal health standards for ozone and other
pollutants, federal law must continue to ensure that new highway projects do
not worsen air quality—a critical Clean Air Act protection known as "transportation
conformity."
In February, the Senate passed a six-year, $318 billion bill (S. 1702) to reauthorize
federal surface transportation programs. The bill increases federal funding
for highways by 40 percent, and it weakens existing clean air protections—specifically
transportation conformity. Among other things, the bill would allow large highway
projects to be built without first considering their long-term air pollution
impacts, which would result in more air pollution from sprawl and poorly planned
growth. The House is scheduled to consider its transportation bill within the
next few weeks.
"Clearly, with the expansion of the I-485 outer belt and the 170 percent
increase in miles traveled in Mecklenburg County and surrounding counties, the
expansion of our light rail and bus systems will become more and more important
to our region's public health, environment and economy," said Nancy Bryant,
President of Carolinas Clean Air Coalition. The highway lobby—car companies,
oil companies, developers and others with a financial stake in road building—is
pushing to weaken or even eliminate transportation conformity. These special
interests poured more than $41 million into the campaign coffers of federal
candidates in the most recent six-year fundraising cycle and spent more than
$124 million lobbying Congress in 2001 and 2002 alone.
"Representatives Watt, Myrick and Hayes should stand up to the highway
lobby and reject any transportation bill that weakens clean air protections
for America’s children and seniors," concluded Robertshaw.
