The Contra Costa Asthma Coalition (CCAC) is an inclusive, broad-based partnership of organizations and individuals whose mission is to strengthen Contra Costa County’s ability to prevent asthma and improve the lives of people affected by asthma. It does this by:
--Helping asthma-related organizations to learn from each other, coordinate their services, and enhance the level of care,
--Promoting public education and programs that reduce health disparities and are responsive to the needs of the community, and
--Advocating for improved local, state, and federal asthma-related programs, policies and legislation.
The CCAC continues to work diligently to improve outdoor air quality. Activities include advocating for regional emissions reductions and working on land use and transportation issues.
In 2007, Contra Costa Health Services received a planning grant from CalTrans to assess the transportation of freight in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. This effort entitled, Project 12898 has been working to inform residents in West Contra Costa County about how land use decisions related to the transportation of freight through their communities affect their health and quality of life.
Freight transport is projected to increase significantly statewide, regionally, and locally. Contra Costa Health Services, the CCAC, Neighborhood House of North Richmond, Pacific Institute, and West County Toxics Coalition joined together to work with the community to address current impacts and mitigate potential future impacts of the growth in freight transport.
The transportation of freight can heavily influence land-use and transportation decisions and it has the potential to increase diesel air pollution. In either case, the community must be at the table to voice their concerns as efforts to expand freight transport are underway. Within the last year, Project 12898 has made great progress.
Project 12898 conducted a survey of 163 residents surveyed from July to September 2007. Over 70% of the respondents said noise, vibrations, congestion, pollution, or health or safety hazards from truck and train traffic impacted them. Only 1% of those surveyed wanted to see more trucking facilities or railroads in West County. Survey results confirmed that West County residents contend with a multitude of health, safety, and quality of life impacts from living in close proximity to the Port of Richmond, two rail yards, the UP and BNSF rail lines, the Chevron Refinery and other industrial facilities, several distribution centers, and other freight transport-related land uses. Community workshops have been held using the information collected in the surveys as a basis for topics covered in the sessions. In addition, working groups have been established to develop solutions for major residents concerns. The Active Living, Community Health & Air Quality and Emergency Response workgroups have met and are establishing recommendations for mitigation measures.
Project 12898 also advocated on behalf of residents regarding a rail expansion project proposed by the Port of Oakland. This proposal had the potential to increase train trips in West County. A letter was sent to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) outlining community concerns that would result from the project. The letter included mitigation measures recommended by residents to address potential increases in impacts, such as grade separations at key locations with a history of rail crossing-related accidents or deaths, and retrofitting train engines to minimize diesel pollution. The letter also pointed out the importance of having members of the community participate in the process and asked the MTC to convene a public forum with affected residents.
In April 2008, a regional coalition of environmental health and justice groups working to reduce diesel pollution, the Ditching Dirty Diesel Collaborative (DDDC), held a meeting with Port of Oakland staff to discuss the status of community engagement in their proposed expansion projects. At this meeting, members of the Project 12898 team relayed concerns about the project expressed by residents and urged for the convening of a community forum in West County as soon as possible to discuss the project proposal with affected residents.
Ultimately the funding need for the full rail expansion project was not approved and a smaller version that does not add more tracks in West Contra Costa will be pursued. In the meantime, a commitment was made to hold public forums with the impacted communities to keep them informed on the progress of the project because of the number of trains moving through West Contra Costa might still increase. |
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