Automobile Access

Bike Lane Access

Traffic Volume

Transportation

Diesel Particulate Matter

Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)

Ozone

Clean Environment

Park Access

Tree Canopy

Neighborhood

Above Poverty

Employed

Per Capita Income

Economic

Census Response

Voting

Social

Insured Adults

Healthcare Access

Homeownership

Housing Habitability

Severely Cost Burdened Low-Income Homeowners

Severely Cost Burdened Low-Income Renters

Uncrowded Housing

Housing

Bachelor's Education

High School Enrollment

Preschool Enrollment

Education

Outdoor Workers

Supermarket Access

Two Parent Households

Library Access

Safe Drinking Water

Public Transit Access

Decision Support

Everyone should be able to live in neighborhoods where it is safe to breathe while having safe, accessible, and convenient transportation options to get to work and other destinations. Living near freeways and major roadways that generate high traffic volume and cut through communities can discourage physical activity, exacerbate air and noise pollution, and disconnect people from the places that matter most. These high traffic volume areas are associated with increased air pollution and pose risks to physical activity levels, mental health, and overall quality of life.

Areas with high traffic volume often have elevated levels of air pollution,
particularly from vehicle emissions. These pollutants, including particulate
matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), can
exacerbate respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD).

 Long-term exposure to traffic-related air
pollutants has increase respiratory symptoms, reduced lung function, and
increased risk of respiratory infections.

Traffic-related air pollutants, such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide
(NO2), have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases,
including hypertension, coronary artery disease, and stroke. 

High traffic areas are often associated with higher rates of accidents, leading to
an increased risk of death and injury for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists
alike. The combination of congestion, driver behavior, and limited visibility
in densely trafficked zones contributes to a heightened likelihood of
collisions, underscoring the need for comprehensive safety measures and traffic
management strategies to mitigate the toll on human lives.

Safety concerns related to traffic accidents and air pollution exposure discourage
individuals from engaging in active transportation, contributing to sedentary
lifestyles and associated health risks, including obesity and related chronic
diseases. Promoting pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and alternative
transportation options is essential to mitigate the negative impact of traffic
volume on physical activity.

Chronic exposure to traffic noise, a common feature in high traffic volume areas, has
also been linked to elevated blood pressure and adverse cardiovascular
outcomes.

 Additionally, decreased physical activity resulting from
perceived safety concerns and limited access to walkable environments in high
traffic areas contribute to cardiovascular risk factors.

Traffic congestion and noise pollution in high traffic volume areas can harm mental
health and overall well-being. Chronic exposure to traffic-related stressors
can lead to increased levels of anxiety, depression, and decreased perceived
quality of life.

 Furthermore, limited access to green spaces and
social isolation resulting from fragmented communities in densely trafficked
areas exacerbate mental health challenges. Implementing urban design strategies
prioritizing noise reduction, green space provision, and community cohesion is
crucial for promoting mental well-being in high traffic environments.

This indicator measures traffic volume (average annual daily traffic) along nearby
major roads, divided by distance in meters.

University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. (2022). Green space & parks. The County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. Retrieved from https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/take-action-to-improve-health/what-works-for-health/strategies/green-space-parks

Jennings, V., & Bamkole, O. (2019). The relationship between social cohesion and urban green space: An avenue for health promotion. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(3), 452. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16030452

Wolch, J. R., Byrne, J., & Newell, J. P. (2014). Urban green space, public health, and environmental justice: The challenge of making cities ‘just green enough.’ Landscape and Urban Planning, 125, 234–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2014.01.017

Wolf, K. (2014, April 30). Water and wellness: Green infrastructure for health co-benefits. Stormwater (WEF). Retrieved from https://stormwater.wef.org/2014/04/water-wellness/

Younger, M., Morrow-Almeida, H. R., Vindigni, S. M., & Dannenberg, A. L. (2008). The built environment, climate change, and health: Opportunities for co-benefits. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 35(5), 517–526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2008.08.017

Cohen, D. A., Han, B., Isacoff, J., Shulaker, B., Williamson, S., Marsh, T., McKenzie, T. L., Weir, M., & Bhatia, R. (2015). Impact of park renovations on park use and park-based physical activity. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 12(2), 289–295. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2013-0165

Zhang, K., & Batterman, S. (2013). Air pollution and health risks due to vehicle traffic. The Science of the total environment, 450-451, 307–316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.01.074

Morency, P., Gauvin, L., Plante, C., Fournier, M., & Morency, C. (2012). Neighborhood social inequalities in road traffic injuries: the influence of traffic volume and road design. American journal of public health, 102(6), 1112–1119. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2011.300528

Maizlish, N., Woodcock, J., Co, S., Ostro, B., Fanai, A., & Fairley, D. (2013). Health cobenefits and transportation-related reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in the San Francisco Bay area. American journal of public health, 103(4), 703–709. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2012.300939

Saucy, A., De Hoogh, K., Vienneau, D., Tangermann, L., Schäffer, B., Wunderli, J. M., Probst‐Hensch, N., & Röösli, M. (2021). Mutual effects of fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and fireworks on cause-specific acute cardiovascular mortality: A case-crossover study in communities affected by aircraft noise. Environmental Pollution, 291, 118066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118066

Lim, J., Kweon, K., Kim, H. W., Cho, S. W., Park, J., & Sim, C. S. (2018). Negative impact of noise and noise sensitivity on mental health in childhood. Noise & health, 20(96), 199–211. https://doi.org/10.4103/nah.NAH_9_18

Recognizing the relationship between traffic volume and health outcomes is essential for
informed public health policy and urban planning initiatives. Addressing the
complex challenges posed by high traffic areas requires a multi-faceted
approach encompassing air quality regulations, active transportation
infrastructure, and community-centered design strategies. By prioritizing
health considerations in transportation and land-use planning decisions,
policymakers can foster healthier, more sustainable communities for all
residents.

For all strategies, jurisdictions should direct and prioritize efforts for places
already overburdened by the impact of high traffic volume, such as air
pollution, traffic-related injury and mortality, and lack of access to green
space and work to address existing inequities in health. In addition to
relieving existing burdens, jurisdictions should identify opportunities to
maximize additional health or quality of life benefits that can be achieved in
addition to decreased traffic volume. For instance, Weatherization Programs can
improve indoor air quality, reduce asthma triggers, provide job training
opportunities, and save residents money. Local governments should prioritize
interventions that minimize risk in communities of highest need while
maximizing co-benefits that meet community needs.

Reduce air pollution at its source by using cleaner freight technology and practices.

Climate

Equity

Sufficient Evidence

Truck Routes and Idling Restrictions

Promising

Zero or Near-Zero-Emission Vehicles

Cleaner Freight Systems

Retrofit Diesel Generators

Ensure that private transportation providers, including ride-sharing, car-sharing and bike-sharing, are accessible and affordable for those without access to cars.

Shared Transportation Systems

Integrate Special Considerations for Rural Areas

Healthy Neighborhoods

Physical Activity

Healthy Transportation Policies

Demand-Responsive Transit Services

Improve sidewalks, bicycle facilities, and first and last mile connections to public transportation to ensure that riders can travel safely in their communities.

Pollution

Active Transportation Infrastructure

Best Practice

Active Transportation Plans

Trails, Linear Parks, and Greenways

Strong Evidence

Safe Routes to School Programs

Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Education and Encouragement Programs

Traffic Calming

Health

Green Space Requirements for New/Revised Construction or Subdividing

Safety for all Users

Support resident engagement, social connections, and climate awareness, so that active commuters and those without a car are empowered and inform transportation investment decisions.

Transit Rider Surveys

Community Engagement and Connection

Community Organizing

Pedestrian & Bicycle Counts and Surveys

Effective Community Engagement

Plan for concentrated and affordable development near transit to improve public transit access and support design that reduces air pollution impacts and increases access to parks and green spaces.

Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing

General Plans

Regional Transportation Plans (RTP)

Parking Requirements

Urban Greening

Lower the cost and incentivize greater use of public transportation.

Discount Transit Pass Programs

Emerging

Payment Options

Transportation Demand Management (TDM)

Use planning tools to ensure that new homes and schools are not adjacent to pollution sources, and work to separate existing incompatible land uses.

Health Protective Buffers

Zoning

Reduce the tailpipe emissions that help form air pollution by reducing car travel.

Equipment Investments

Transit Service Expansion

Cool Transit Facilities

Transit Fix-It-First

Where pollution and people must co-exist, encourage healthy design standards and accurate information collection and response to existing risks.

Weatherization Programs

Monitoring and Warning Systems

Site Planning

HPI Map

Policy Guide

Traffic Volume

References