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CITIZENS' AGENDA
: GOAL 3 |
Enhancing public health, safety and security
“Our transportation system should provide a secure
travel environment, use all available methods to reduce deaths and injuries
from crashes, promote cleaner air and water quality, provide access to
essential destinations, encourage healthy physical activity, and have
the capability to maintain operations during emergencies.” (1)
1.
The Alliance for a New Transportation Charter is a project of the
Surface Transportation Policy Project in Washington D.C.
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| What this means is:
For each passenger mile traveled, public transit uses half the fuel
and produces 5-50% of the harmful emission of private autos.
Photo
courtesy of Metro Transit.
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• Increased
safety.
Traffic laws are strong and consistently enforced. Streets are designed
to discourage speeding. Maintenance and safety investments are more important
than lane expansions — we “fix it first.” Education about
safety and transportation options is a part of school curricula, getting
a driver’s license, and a comprehensive public information program. • Healthy
air quality.
With reduced emissions, there are fewer hospital and emergency room admissions.
Incidence of disease and health care costs are reduced because there
are lower levels of air toxics and soot from vehicle emissions.
• Increased
physical activity.
It’s easier to walk or bike, so people do it more. Physical activity
is a natural part of going about one’s business. The percentage
of overweight Minnesotans, now at 60 percent, is reduced — as is
the cost of health problems attributed to lack of physical activity (2).
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| 2.
News Release, Minnesota Department of Health, May, 2002. www.health.state.mn.us/news.
The Minnesota Department of Health estimates that in 2000 nearly $500 million
dollars was spent treating diseases that would be avoided if all Minnesotans
were physically active. |
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