Active Community Design: Why Here? Why Now?

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1 Active Community Design: Why Here? Why Now? Chris Holm Development Review Coordinator 20 April, 2015

2 Sacramento, California

3 Our environment has changed North Natomas

4 We ve rapidly urbanize our open space From 2000 to 2009, North Natomas built out 11 square miles of land. Sprawl s Spread Speeds Up Sacramento Bee Nov 6, 2011

5 We re spreading out From 2000 to 2009, 90 square miles were urbanized in the Sacramento region. El Centro Road, North Natomas, Sacramento Sprawl s Spread Speeds Up Sacramento Bee Nov 6, 2011

6 North Natomas

7 We re leaving open spaces in between Development adjacent to a ranch in Galt 7:15 am on I-5 from Laguna to Sacramento

now average 60 minutes in commute time, up by 10% from 2000 North Natomas

8 We re building an Asphalt Nation (reference to a 1998 book by Jane Holtz Kay) 250% increase in vehicle miles traveled Elk Grove residents now average 60 minutes in commute time, up by 10% from 2000 North Natomas average 50 minutes commute Sprawl s Spread Speeds Up Sacramento Bee Nov 6, 2011

9 Sacramento commuters waste an average of 41 hours a year in traffic congestion The national average is 38 hours a year.

10 Billions of dollars are lost in our economy due to traffic congestion

11 Traffic congestion adds to stress Driving is sedentary and stressful Traffic jams are unpredictable lack of sense of control Increases aggression and road rage

12 No access to healthy foods No retail sources of food in sprawling developments

13 High cost to provide municipal services when land uses are at a great distance

14 The health impacts of sprawl

15 Relationship Between Urban Sprawl and Physical Activity, Obesity, and Morbidity Sept 2003 American Journal of Health Promotion: Reid Ewing et al Health characteristics of more than 200,000 people in 448 counties American Journal of Health Promotion 2003 Sep-Oct;18(1):47-57

16 Sprawl Index or Compactness Index Average of 448 counties: 100 -density -land use mix - street access -centering San Francisco: 209 Sacramento: 116 Yolo: 106 El Dorado: 86 From Mack Road looking north

17 People in the most sprawling counties are likely to weigh 6 pounds more than people living in the most compact counties Sacramento County

18 Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1985 (*BMI 30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5 4 person) No Data <10% 10% 14%

19 Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1990 (*BMI 30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5 4 person) No Data <10% 10% 14%

20 Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1995 (*BMI 30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5 4 person) No Data <10% 10% 14% 15% 19%

21 Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2000 (*BMI 30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5 4 person) No Data <10% 10% 14% 15% 19% 20%

22 Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2005 (*BMI 30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5 4 person) No Data <10% 10% 14% 15% 19% 20% 24% 25% 29% 30%

23 Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2010 (*BMI 30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5 4 person) No Data <10% 10% 14% 15% 19% 20% 24% 25% 29% 30%

24 36% of American adults now obese Another 33% overweight A total of 69% carry extra weight

25 Obesity Relationships with Community Design, Physical Activity, and Time Spent in Cars American Journal of Preventive Medicine June 2004: Lawrence Frank, PhD First study to document an association between land use, weight, and travel behavior

26 Atlanta Obesity Study Weight, travel patterns, and types of neighborhood residence of 10,500 people in Atlanta region Atlanta

27 The probability of obesity rises with time spent in a car Percent White Male White Female Black Male Black Female min 200 min 300 min 400 min 500 min 0

28 For thousands and thousands of years, human beings have led very physically active lives

29 It is only very recently - in the past 3-4 generations - that large numbers of people are living inactive lives

30 Physical activity is a protective factor for health.

31 Moving makes the heart and lungs do their work Moving makes the heart and lungs do their work

32 How much exercise do we need? 30 minutes on most days Can be split up Surgeon General s 1996 Physical Activity Recommendation

33 38% of adults don t walk even 10 minutes a day

34 Physical Activity Levels Among Adults in: United States No activity 14% Some activity 38% Active enough 48% for health Sacramento County No activity 15% Some activity 48% Active enough 37% for health U.S Centers for Disease Control California Health Interview Survey, 2007

35 Without regular exercise, health status tends to decline Chronic diseases Diabetes Heart disease Cancer High blood pressure and other conditions Higher stress levels Poor sleep quality Decreased mental alertness Depression Osteoporosis

36 Dramatic diabetes increase in past 30 years

The medical costs of obesity and physical inactivity include treatment for high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, diabetes Chenowith D: The Economic Costs of Physical Inactivity, Obesity, and

37 The medical costs of obesity and physical inactivity include treatment for high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, diabetes Chenowith D: The Economic Costs of Physical Inactivity, Obesity, and Overweight in California Adults: Health Care, Workers Compensation, and Lost Productivity. California Department of Health Services, 2005 The Economic Costs of Overweight, Obesity and Physical Inactivity Among California Adults 2006, California Center for Physical Activity, 2009.

38 21% of health care cost due to obesity

39 Other public health issues connected to the built environment

40 Name the #1 cause of death among people in America aged 1-24

41 Community Design and Traffic Injuries The LEADING CAUSE of death of people aged 1 24 years is automobile crashes.

42 Community Design and Pedestrian Injuries Pedestrian deaths are greater in sprawling areas, where there are fewer pedestrians. Ewing R, Schieber RA, Zegeer CV. Urban sprawl as a risk factor in motor vehicle occupant and pedestrian fatalities. Am J Public Health Sep;93(9):

43 The Solution: communities designed for walking and bicycling

44 What makes a walkable community? What we need each day is CLOSE BY The streets are SAFE for walking and bicycling

45 Designing for Health Greater land use mix

46 If a public health professional were redesigning Sacramento, there would be Shorter distances between where we live and where we need to go each day J Street, Midtown Sacramento

47 When Land Uses Are Not Mixed Residential PARKING The only way to get from A to B is Commercial

48 Zoning divides communities Land use planning and zoning originated with an intention to protect human health But zoning standards focused on separation of uses haven t adapted and changed over time We have separated and disaggregated the very elements of daily life

49 Land Use Mix: The probability of obesity falls in balanced neighborhoods

50 Designing for Health Greater land use mix Greater street connectivity

52 High Street Connectivity Makes More Land Available One-Mile Walk in a Compact Neighborhood One-Mile Walk in a Sprawling Suburb Maps courtesy of Lawrence Frank & Co. and the Sightline Institute.

53 Improve connectivity with: A grid street layout Continuous networks of sidewalks Shorter blocks and more intersections

54 Designing for Health Greater land use mix Greater street connectivity Higher residential density

55 Higher residential density levels are linked to lower obesity levels 23% obesity in the least dense neighborhoods 12% obesity in the most dense neighborhoods

56 Increase residential density Metro Square in midtown Sacramento

57 Suburban density

58 You might not see yourselves as PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS

59 No system in our built environment has greater impact on human health than transportation

60 The streets have changed K Street, Sacramento, 1940s

61 In Sacramento, only 4% of people walk or bike to work Sacramento Area Council of Governments, correspondence 11/2/11, based on American Community Survey 2010

62 Roads are designed primarily for vehicles Arena Blvd at Truxel Franklin Blvd north of Fruitridge

63 If a public health professional were redesigning Sacramento, there would be Streets that are equally safe for all users 21 st Street at Q Street is a Complete Street

66 Case Study: Street designed for cars

67 Case Study: What a street transformation might look like

68 Case Study: Street designed for walking and biking

69 Driving Speed & Pedestrian Fatalities Pedestrian Fatal Injury Rates by Vehicle Speed and Age Image courtesy of

70 Traffic calming increases business

71 Walkable commercial areas are more attractive Times Square converted to pedestrian plaza 42% residents shop in neighborhood more often now 26% leave offices more often for lunch

Emilie Cameron Chair, Sacramento Metro Edge Fewer drivers

72 Young people want walkable communities It used to be the big house and the big yard, but now it s connectivity. Emilie Cameron Chair, Sacramento Metro Edge Fewer drivers among the millenials Walkability creates economic opportunity

73 Physically active employees Netherlands study of 1236 employees 64% cycled to work Fewest absences among those who cycled the most Difference of 15% are out sick less often

74 Physically active employees are more productive Employees who exercise before work: Less stressed Fewer absences Higher productivity with less resources Improved concentration Improved self-confidence

75 People who bicycle have less Operating a compact car = $.35/mile Operating a bike = $.05/mile 2004 report by US Labor Dept: Average family 25% income on transportation, 32% on housing Walkable communities 9% on transportation, 32% on housing transportation cost

76 Walkable communities bring quality of life Helping to create a walkable and bikeable environment improves conditions around in you many ways More attractive Higher property values

77 Walkscore.com How Walk Score Works Walk Score is a number between 0 and 100 that measures the walkability of any address. Walk Score Description Walker's Paradise Daily errands do not require a car. Very Walkable Most errands can be accomplished on foot. Somewhat Walkable Some amenities within walking distance Car-Dependent A few amenities within walking distance Car-Dependent Almost all errands require a car.

78 Green = More walkable areas Red = Less walkable areas

79 Over the next 20 years, only 12% of households will have children. A large percentage of the population will be aging boomers. Livable Places Update January 2009 Local Government Commission

80 People like to go on vacation to places where they can walk: mountains, forests, beaches, older cities in Europe and Latin America. Sacramento can attract more tourism dollars by becoming more walkable.

81 Stockton Boulevard Sacramento, CA Photo-simulation by Cunningham Engineering.

82 Stockton Boulevard Sacramento, CA Photo-simulation by Cunningham Engineering.

83 How do we want to invest in our future? 83

84 Urban Planning for Tomorrow s Communities Focus new development on infill Grow vertically instead of horizontally Mix uses together Build Complete Streets and public transit

85 Two-thirds of the structures that will be standing in the U.S. in 2050 are not yet built.

86 Thank you! Chris Holm Development Review Coordinator WALKSacramento th Street, Suite 203 Sacramento, CA

Public Healthy and Community Design

Public Healthy and Community Design Jeffery Rosenhall, MA, LCI #2312 Health Program Manager, CDPH April 24, 2017 Stairwell interventions Urban bike track Public health and planning: A Road Map Planning,