Mayor Karl Dean, Chairman Incorporating Health in Regional Transportation Planning Leslie A. Meehan, AICP Center TRT Intervention Webinar January 29, 2013 Objectives for Today Background About the Nashville Area MPO Creating a Framework Transportation policy and investment to support health Keeping At It Ongoing efforts to evaluate Transportation & Health policy Policy and Funding Successes Policy and funding to support health benefits of transportation planning and projects: Opportunity for physical activity Reduced traffic crashes Improved air quality Access to healthy foods 1
What We Accomplished Policy Scoring Criteria for inclusion of health in evaluation of Transportation Projects Funding Restructured Existing Funding Sources so more money is spent on Active Transportation Data Regional Data Collection Effort to Provide Baseline Evidence for Policy Benchmarking Metropolitan Planning Organizations How MPOs Work Conduit for Federal Transportation Dollars in Urban Areas Provide funding for roads, transit, greenways, bikeways and sidewalks Work with local governments to establish regional priorities (however, bike/pedestrian trips are local) Impact everyone in a region 2
Nashville Area MPO City of Brentwood City of Fairview City of Franklin City of Gallatin City of Goodlettsville City of Hendersonville City of LaVergne City of Lebanon City of Millersville City of Mt. Juliet City of Murfreesboro City of Portland Town of Smyrna City of Spring Hill City of Springfield City of White House Metropolitan Nashville Rutherford County Sumner County Williamson County Wilson County Tennessee DOT Greater Nashville Regional Transportation Authority City of Portland Metropolitan Transit Authority Franklin Transit Authority Town of Murfreesboro Smyrna Public Transportation Metro Nashville Airport Authority TN Dept of Environment & Conservation City of Spring Federal Highway Administration Hill Federal Transit Administration City of Springfield City of White House Metropolitan Nashville Rutherford County Regional Council Sumner County Williamson County Making the Case for Health Development Pattern, 1965-2035 Population 2035 2,600,000 1965 750,000 2000 1,450,000 (In 2035, the Nashville region will be about the size of the Denver region today) Properties affected by development 3
Resiliency in Urban Congestion TODAY 2030 w/ Short-Term Improvements 2030 After Long-Term Improvements Congestion in Urban Areas Cannot Be Treated with Roadway Capacity Alone. Daily Recurring Congestion on Major Roadways. On average, Americans spend about 18% of their Household Income on Transportation- Related Expenses Source: Center for Neighborhood Technology Housing + Transportation Affordability Index (http://www.htaindex.org/) Growing Issues to Address Housing Choices Availability of Jobs Increasing Costs Longer Travel Times & Trip Lengths Quality of Life Worsening Personal Health / Increasing Costs Education Affordable and Healthy Foods 4
Transportation and Obesity Sources: Centers for Disease Control National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey/ U.S. DOT Federal Highway Administration, Annual Vehicle Distance Traveled in Miles and Related Data Obesity Diabetes Heart Disease Physical Inactivity Support for Active Transportation Rule of 1/3: 1/3 of trips are 1 mile or less 1/3 of Americans don t have a car/drive 1/3 of transit users get daily physical activity from walking to transit 5
Developing Policy and Funding Strategies U.S. DOT Responding to Public Demand I have traveled all over this country and everywhere I go, people want better options. Options that offer reduced greenhouse-gas emissions. Options that offer reduced fuelconsumption. Options that offer better health. Options that bring communities together. Now, let me make this absolutely clear: I never said we would stop repairing, maintaining, and yes even expanding roadways. I said only that it's time to stop assuming that putting more cars on more roads is the best way to move people around more effectively. U.S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood The Campaign 2009 Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Study 2,400 people provide input Themes: more facilities facilities that connect supportive culture Transportation Survey 1,100 random-dial households Prioritizing Transportation $: 1. Transit 2. Walking/Bicycling 3. Build Roadways 6
Middle TN Public Opinions 1st choice: improve and expand mass transit options 2nd choice: make communities more walkable & bike-friendly 3rd choice: build new or widen existing roadways Champions and Partners Residents/Workers in Middle TN Elected Officials Partners Housing, Transit, Chambers of Commerce Showcasing other cities Public Health: Centers for Disease Control Tennessee Obesity Taskforce #1 A Bold, New Vision for Mass Transit #2 Support for Active Transportation & Walkable Communities #3 Preservation & Enhancement of Strategic Roadways 7
What We Accomplished: A Regional Vision Bikeways Sidewalks Prioritizing Projects Health Analysis There is a strong link between the lack of physical activity and health (e.g. heart disease, obesity, and other chronic conditions). Research has also shown certain population groups have a higher disparity. These groups include: - Low Income - Minority - Older Adults (over 65) MPO s Urban STP Investment Strategy 70% to Location Specific Roadway Improvements Quality Growth and Sustainable Development 15% Multi-Modal Options 15% Health & Environment 10% Safety & Security 10% Congestion Management 10% State & Local Support/ Investment 15% System Preservation & Enhancement 15% Freight & Goods Movement 10% 8
More Complete Streets 70% of adopted roadway projects include sidewalks, bicycle lanes, or shared-use lanes (up from 2%) MPO s Urban STP Investment Strategy 15% minimum investment in Active Transportation & Walkable Communities Sidewalks, bicycle lanes, greenways, transit stops, amenities 10% minimum flexed to Transit Combined with Federal Transit Administration funds to help implement regional vision for mass transit 5% Intelligent Transportation Systems Using technology to manage traffic Active Transportation Program Awarded $2.5 million in 2012 10 projects submitted 8 funded (7 infrastructure, 1 education) 3-Tiered Scoring Process Staff Review BPAC Review Staff Review In 2013, we will combine TA funding with our Active Transportation Program, using the same process. Total funding will be approximately $11.5 million http://www./plans_programs/tip/atp.aspx 9
Lessons Learned Discussion started out with community vision, not the words health, bicycle or pedestrian Adopt policies that include public health Adopt policy even without complete data Don t let the traditional use of a funding source limit possibilities Barriers Changing the culture/social norms around modes of transportation. Lack of understanding of the connection between transportation and health: The understanding between healthcare spending for disease treatment vs. prevention General lack of understanding about how an unhealthy workforce decreases productivity and increases healthcare spending The still-new idea that health needs to be addressed outside of the medical setting Ongoing Evaluation of Transportation & Health 10
Measuring Progress Complete Streets Policies Miles of Sidewalks/Bikeways Crash Data Transit Ridership Air Quality Data Counting Bicyclists and Pedestrians Health in All Policies Measuring Changes in Population Health Transportation and Health study Transportation, Physical Activity and Health Data Collection and Analysis Preliminary Results Health Questions 11
Food Access and Transportation Leslie A. Meehan, AICP Nashville Area MPO meehan@ 615-862-7211 Livability. Sustainability. Prosperity. Diversity. 12