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Planning for Safe and Healthy Communities

Planning for Safe and Healthy Communities. ASTHO/NACCHO Joint Conference Presentation by Marya Morris, AICP American Planning Association Boston, July 14, 2005. A Convergence of Priorities. Public Health. Community Planning and Design. Physically Active Communities.

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Planning for Safe and Healthy Communities

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  1. Planning for Safe and Healthy Communities ASTHO/NACCHO Joint Conference Presentation by Marya Morris, AICP American Planning Association Boston, July 14, 2005

  2. A Convergence of Priorities Public Health Community Planning and Design Physically Active Communities

  3. Thesis: Communities that reduce sprawl and effectively address the public health and safety implications of community design and transportation systems will have safer, healthier, and more physically active residents.

  4. The Many Ways the Built Environment affects Health? Related to land use and transportation Related to automobile dependency Related to social processes • Obesity, physical activity, CVD, injury • Water quantity and quality • Pedestrian injuries • Air pollution and asthma • Climate change contribution • Car crashes • Mental health impacts • Social capital, social isolation • Terrorism, crime

  5. The Forgotten Pedestrian • Traffic flow prioritized over safety • Only 1% Federal Hwy spending on peds • Traffic laws reflect bias and lack of understanding of child/senior behavior & development

  6. Is “sprawl” dangerous to pedestrians? • Most dangerous metro areas = Southern and Western cities • 2%-4% decrease in ped fatality rates with every 1% increase in compact design Sources: STPP. Mean Streets, 2002. Ewing, R, Scheiber R, Zegeer C. AJPH 2003;93(9).

  7. Barriers to Health and Physical Activity: Is Community Design Part of the Problem? • Separated land uses • High traffic speeds • Auto-dominated community design • Large lots • Ignoring human scale • Prohibited connections between origins and destinations

  8. Why Walking and Bicycling? • It’s a widely accepted activity • It can be done in a variety of settings • It promotes other beneficial outcomes (e.g., environ-ment, transportation) • It’s relatively inexpensive compared to other physical activities Sources: Brownson, Ross C., et al. Promoting Physical Activity in Rural Communities: Walking Trail Access, Use and Effects. American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2000), Vol. 18, No. 3.

  9. Built Environment Determinants of Physical Activity People are more likely to walk if: • Walking trails, parks and gyms are accessible • Sidewalks present and scenery are enjoyable • Many people are out walking or exercising • Friend(s) are available with whom to walk People are less likely to exercise if: • Too little time • Too tired • Unmotivated • Perceived traffic, crime or other danger • Long distance to exercise location Source: Brownson RC et al, AJPH 91:1995, 2001; HealthStyles Survey, 1999

  10. Motorists speed in my neighborhood. There are no sidewalks in my neighborhood or parts of sidewalks are missing. Sidewalks are broken, cracked, or blocked by obstacles in my neighborhood. There are no safe or easy ways to cross the streets in my neighborhood. People are intimidated by crime in my neighborhood. People don’t want to walk in my neighborhood at night. My neighborhood is not a nice place to walk, there is trash everywhere and buildings are not kept up. My neighborhood looks barren, there are no trees and buildings are too far from the street. Why People are Reluctant to Walk: It’s All About Safety Neighborhood Walking Guide http://www.walkinginfo.org

  11. Pedestrian Injuries and Fatalities What makes a road dangerous? • Multiple lanes • High speeds • No sidewalks • Long distances between intersections or crosswalks • Lined with commercial establishments & apartments • Source: Hanzlick R, et al. Pedestrian fatalities—Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett Counties, Georgia, 1994-98. Morbidity/Mortality Weekly Report 1999;48:601-05.

  12. Pedestrian Injuries and Fatalities: There’s Good News and Bad News • 8.6% of trips are on foot but 11.4% of traffic deaths are pedestrians • 12.5% decline in ped fatalities from 1994 to 2003 (51,989 people died while walking during that period) • 65+ make up less than 13% of the U.S. pop. but accounted for ~ 22% of the 4,882 car-related pedestrian deaths in 2003. • Ped fatalities in 0-14 age group decreased by 46% from 1992 to 2002 • Elderly, children suffer disproportionate share of pedestrian injury and fatality Source: National Center for Statistics and Analysis. 2003a. Traffic Safety Facts 2002: Pedestrians. Washington (DC): Nat’l Highway Traffic Safety Admin.

  13. Barriers to Walking or Bicyclingto School (as identified by parents) 55% said distance; 40% said danger And is it any wonder why? Source: MMWR 2002;51(32):701-704

  14. Photo: Frederick County, Md. Public Schools

  15. Impact of Community Design on Activity Sources: Cervero (1999); Cambridge Systematics (1994); Cervero and Kockelman (1997); Douglas et al. (1997); Ewing et al. (2001)

  16. Pedestrian-oriented design Compact, mixed use, diverse housing Traffic calming Connectivity and destinations More transportation choices Open and recreational space “Health Promoting” Community Design

  17. Five Strategic Points of Intervention Where Planners Can Affect Change 1. Visioning and goal setting 2. Rethinking planning in all contexts 3. Local implementation tools 4. Site Design and Development 5. Siting Public Facilities and Capital Spending

  18. Where Physical Activity/Injury Prevention Fits in the Visioning and Goal Setting Process • Residents’ shared desire for healthy communities • Enhancement and improvement of quality of life • It is government’s responsibility to protect the public’s health, safety and general welfare • Environmental justice (and the removal of health disparities) is a land-use issue

  19. 2. Rethinking State and Local Planning • Comprehensive plans • Neighborhood plans • Redevelopment plans • Functional Plans • Bicycle and pedestrian • Transit • Streets and circulation • Trails • Parks • Human services • Housing • Economic development • Schools and campuses

  20. How Health and Physical Activity Fit into State and Local Planning • Smart growth is, by definition, supportive of physical activity • Increasing transportation options • Injury prevention • Reducing VMT • Improving air quality • Open space, trails, bike/ped • Creating urban service limits • Monitors utility extensions • Minimizing health risks • Natural hazards • Hazardous materials • Noise • Injury prevention

  21. 3. Local Implementation Tools • Zoning and subdivision regulations • Rethink development density • Mix land uses • Street connectivity • Require sidewalks • Streetscape improvements • Neighborhood traffic calming • Capital improvement programs

  22. How Can Plan Implementation Tools Promote Activity and Aid Injury Prevention? • Open space, trails, bike, and ped encourage routine activity • Traffic calming • Pedestrian and Bike plans address safety and injury prevention • Equitable allocation of capital improvements • Neighborhood planning, TND, mixed use, increase density address social isolation and loss of community

  23. Improve the pedestrian environment Provide security, lighting, visibility Protect people from traffic Adequate accommodation of bike and ped facilities Building orientation, setback requirements Street trees, landscaping, open spaces Well connected routes between origins and destinations 4. Site Design and Development

  24. How Site Design and Development Can Encourage Aid Injury Prevention Physical Activity? • Adequate street lighting can reduce crime, personal injury • Parking lot circulation, and street redesign reduces pedestrian and vehicle crashes • Streetscape enhancements include shade trees, awnings, pedestrian comfort, and amenities, promote walking and social interaction

  25. 5. Siting and Use of Public Facilities • Public Spaces • Schools • Post offices • Libraries • Museums • Parks • Plazas • City Hall • Campuses • Community Centers

  26. How Public Facility Siting Relates to Physical Activity Aid Injury Prevention • Siting and design of public spaces, parks, post offices, libraries serve as walking destinations, community gathering places • Addresses school location, size, travel mode choice • Can promote safe routes to schools • Addresses full spectrum of elderly housing, mobility issues • Capital budgeting can address equity, minimize disparities

  27. Roles for Injury Prevention in the Smart Growth/ Transportation/ Land Use Planning Arena • Injury impacts (existing and potential) make a compelling argument; “Safety” is a winning message • Raise awareness among planners of injury prevention programs; learn about their efforts • Support funding for nonmotorized travel that includes safety component • Build programmatic bridges w/other state programs • SR2S legislation & projects • Bring message to state Departments of Transportation • Collaborate with state Smart Growth initiatives

  28. Thank You! Marya Morris, AICP American Planning Association mmorris@planning.org

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