(NJ) Traffic Pollutions Stunts Kids' Lung Development: Report

If you live on one of New Jersey's many congested state roads or near a highway, you are breathing in traffic pollution. For your kids, inhaling what experts call ground-level ozone can present serious, life-long health problems. U.S researchers have concluded that vehicle emissions can prevent the lungs of children from fully developing, leading to decreased breathing capacity and serious illnesses for the rest of their lives.

The study by scientists at the University of Southern California found that children who had lived within 500 yards of a highway from the age of 10, had significantly less lung function by the time they reached 18 than youngsters exposed to less traffic pollution. In a state like New Jersey, where our cars outnumber the state's total acreage, you don't have to be a scientist to understand why children would have trouble breathing.

"One of the biggest contributors is ground-level ozone, and every county in New Jersey is at what's called 'attainment' for ground-level ozone," said Jeff Tittel, the director of the Sierra Club's New Jersey chapter. "One of the ironies about New Jersey is that we have 6.5 million vehicles and only about 5.4 million acres. And in the urban areas it's much worse."

Tittel said that in addition to diminished lung capacity, children exposed to traffic pollution can develop potentially deadly illnesses.

"Asthma is one. Childhood leukemia is another. And heart disease because having less lung capacity makes your heart work harder and leads to heart problems," said Tittel.

Tittel said there's little that can be done about New Jersey's dense population, adding that we can't simply move people from cities out to the Pinelands. Therefore, he said individuals have to make choices that are environmentally friendly, like buying cleaner-burning cars, car pooling, and walking more. He also said the government has a role in demanding better fuel economy of new vehicles.

My opinion as to what this is laying the ground work for.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1776511/posts
NEW JERSEY FLOATS DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES ON CLEAN WATER FUNDS

>>>* “Transit Villages”; * “Brownfields Development Areas”; and * “Transfer of Development Rights (TDR)” programs.<<<

Emphasis on post 13:

>>>TRANSIT VILLAGES are a major solution to the serious and growing problems of peak oil and global warming by creating dense, walkable communities connected to a train line that greatly reduces the need for driving and the burning of fossil fuels.<<

Here is another one:

http://www.nj1015.com/absolutenm/templates/?a=5658&z=1
Plan Being Drafted to Accomodate [Atlantic City] Traffic

Now look here:

http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/publicat/Facts/demand.shtm

Intersection	County
County Route 501 (JFK Blvd.) at 15th Street, Bayonne	Hudson
Echelon Road at Kirkbridge Road, Voorhees	Camden
Atlantic Avenue at Michigan Avenue, Atlantic City	Atlantic
Atlantic Avenue at Kentucky Avenue Atlantic City	Atlantic
County Route 39 (South Washington Avenue) at County Route 70 (West Main Street), Bergenfield	Bergen
County Route 606 (Hamilton Avenue) at Clinton Avenue, Trenton	Mercer

Help for Commuters

Employer-based shuttles

Through NJDOT's support of the TMA program, the TMAs administer twenty-two shuttles in twelve counties throughout the state. These shuttles are funded by employers, counties, NJ Transit or other sources. NJDOT continues to fund start up costs and offer administrative support to TMAs as they develop new shuttles.

Park and Rides

Park and ride information is available online at www.njdot.nj.gov/commuter/rideshare. NJDOT provides assistance to communities in identifying park and ride locations in the form of technical assistance and/or funding.

Transit Villages

NJDOT and NJ TRANSIT along with nine other state agencies have formed a partnership known as the Transit Village Initiative. These agencies provide priority funding and technical assistance when a municipality has demonstrated a commitment to redeveloping the area around its transit facility into a compact, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood with a strong residential component. The Transit Village Initiative encourages growth in New Jersey where infrastructure and public transit already exist.

I wonder how many millions will be made by contributors on these projects? It's a never ending tunnel to nowhere.

Did you hear about the two guys in Brick that were sent tax bills from the state for cigarettes they purchased online? I believe it was close to thirty thousand dollars between the two of them. The state government goes on to tell us that New Jersey has the highest tax on cigarettes in the nation so that they will get more people to quit. What BS that is! New Jersey has the highest tax on cigarettes for the same reason we have the highest property taxes in the nation. Because these clowns can't get enough of our money to waste!

I'm going to get an ulcer if you keep posting these stories, Calpernia. Hahahahaha!

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