Transportation Policy and Atmospheric Pollution: A review with an application to Chile

Abstract

Atmospheric pollution is an important problem in terms of public policy. The main sources are anthropogenic and related to transport and industrial sectors. In Santiago, Chile, public transport is one of the main urban sources of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, with a direct impact on air quality. In 2001 the Air Quality Plan for Santiago (PPDA) established a 75% and 40% emission reduction for PM10 and NOx to be achieved by year 2005, respectively. Emission reductions are estimated in respect to year 1997. In 2000, the Chilean Government released a new Urban Transport Development Plan for Santiago (Transantiago). Our analysis study whether an improvement on buses technology improve air quality significantly and in turn improve health of residents of Santiago, Chile. In this paper we look at the association between transport and atmospheric pollution in cities with extensive public transport networks. We starts with an examination of cities and their atmospheric pollution problem of pollution. We look at the impact of environmental public policy related to public transport in Santiago, Chile has an impact in air quality and its inhabitants ‘health.