The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutDTS-08-180 - Air Quality & Emissions Relative to Drive Through Facilitiesf I~~T~HE1~tTER - • t~evelopment & Technical Services Report To: Environmental Committee Date of Meeting: December 11, 2008 Submitted By: Alain Pinard, Interim Director of Planning Prepared By: Alain Pinard, Interim Director of Planning (519-741-2319) Carrie Musselman, Senior Environmental Planner (519-741-3400 x 3148) Ward(s) Involved: All Date of Report: October 21, 2008 Report No.: DTS-08-180 Subject: AIR QUALITY AND EMISSIONS RELATIVE TO DRIVE THROUGH FACILITIES RECOMMENDATION: THAT the `Air Quality Assessment of Tim Hortons Restaurants' study prepared by RWDI Consulting Engineers and Scientists, dated May 2008, be received as information; THAT staff continue to monitor the emerging body of scientific information related to air quality and emissions relative to drive-through facilities; That Tim Hortons be encouraged to improve notification and awareness of the "eat-in" option at Tim Hortons restaurants where this service is available; AND FURTHER THAT staff proceed with amending existing design guidelines and standards for drive-throughs as they relate to pedestrian safety and urban design. BACKGROUND: In December of 2007 staff report DTS-08-006 was presented to Development & Technical Services (DTS) Committee. The staff report requested that direction be given to staff on alternative ways of dealing with drive-throughs, particularly as they relate to pedestrian safety and air quality. At that time Council was informed that the TDL Group Corp., operators of Tim Hortons Restaurants, had commissioned a study by RWDI Consulting Engineering & Scientists. Council's consideration of this matter was subsequently deferred pending receipt of the RWDI study together with a peer review. The findings from the RWDI study and the peer review were presented at the September 11, 2008 Environmental Committee meeting. After discussion, the Environmental Committee requested that staff report back regarding the overall tenets of the `Air Quality Assessment of -1- Tim Hortons Restaurants' study prepared by RWDI Consulting Engineers and Scientists dated May 2008, and provide an option for moving forward. REPORT: The RWDI Study RWDI was hired to conduct an air quality study of vehicles using Tim Hortons facilities. The primary goal of the TDL Group Corp. commissioning the study was to obtain sound technical information on vehicle emissions at Tim Hortons drive-through facilities. In addition, the study was to compare vehicles emission results obtained to other common sources of air pollution in order to assist the public with an easily understood comparison when discussing vehicle emissions at drive-throughs. The study was also to look at how drive-through emissions would change as aging models of automobiles are removed and replaced by newer models with lower emissions. Finally, the study was to note how the emissions at drive-through facilities affect the local air quality around those facilities. The completed RWDI study offered scientific data suggesting that drive-throughs produce no more pollutants than overall use of a motor vehicle itself and that combined emissions generated from all vehicles using adrive-through facility during apeak-hour of operation are relatively small in relation to other common emission sources. The study suggests that for a store with no drive-through, the congestion that occurs in the parking lot, together with the start- up emissions and emissions from the extra travel distance to get to and from a space, all contribute to produce somewhat higher emissions per vehicle compared to a store that has a drive-through. Modelling by RWDI indicated that predicted trends in fleet-wide emissions would result in reduced impacts from smog pollutants and carbon monoxide in the future. It could also be argued that with erratic gasoline prices, newer more stringent emission standards and the development of cleaner-burning vehicle fuels air quality impacts of drive through facilities may be reduced in the future. Overall, the findings for the Tim Hortons stores examined in the RWDI study indicate no air quality benefit to the public from eliminating drive-throughs. Peer review A peer review was conducted by Dr. D. Karman, PhD, P.Eng, a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carleton University. Dr. Karman concluded that the study was a comprehensive quantitative attempt to estimate emissions from different vehicle patterns around Tim Hortons facilities with and without drive-through service. The RWDI study applied appropriate methodologies for quantifying the emissions of typical cases and put the results obtained in the context of other emissions sources, and estimated ambient concentrations around a typical facility. In conclusion, the RWDI study provided a sound basis for estimating the effect of the two types of Tim Hortons facilities. Staff Response The scientific and technical information surrounding air quality science covering drive-though emissions is relatively new and there is not a large body of research and data. It would also appear that the scientific community has not yet reached a consensus on this matter. City staff -2- are not experts in air quality science and are not in a position of providing expert or informed comments on the tenets of the RWDI study. Staff agree with the Committee comment that the sample size was small and focuses on one business. However, it is also noted that RWDI study commissioned by Tim Hortons is the only scientific information available. As a result, staff are of the opinion that it is premature to reach conclusions with confidence on the air quality impacts of drive-through facilities. Interest in this topic may fuel additional research and that would be helpful. Staff will continue to monitor to relevant literature so that it is aware if a general consensus is ever reached. The debate will no doubt continue for some time. RWDI has recently notified the City that they have submitted a manuscript of to the Journal of The Air & Waste Management Association. The Journal of Air & Waste Management is one of the oldest continuously published, peer-reviewed, technical environmental journals in the world. This publication and subsequent responses are important steps in improving our knowledge of this topic. While waiting for a consensus to be reached in the scientific community, staff propose to initiate amendments to urban design policies and guidelines for drive-throughs in order to improve pedestrian safety and to create attractive streetscapes. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: No capital budget implications are associated with amending land use planning design guidelines and standards for drive-throughs. Costs related to the implementation of the 2008 Strategic Plan for the Environment will be identified through the Strategic Plan for the Environment Implementation Plan. COMMUNICATIONS: None required to date. Depending upon the direction from Council community consultation may be required. CONCLUSION: The findings for the Tim Hortons stores examined in the RWDI study indicate no air quality benefit to the public from eliminating drive-throughs. City staff are not experts in air quality science and are not capable of commenting on the tenets of the RWDI study. While awaiting journal publication of the RWDI manuscript it is recommended that staff be directed to initiate amendments to urban design policies and guidelines intended for drive-throughs. Alain Pinard, MA, MCIP, RPP Interim Director of Planning Carrie Musselman, B.Sc Senior Environmental Planner -3-