Walkability Action Institute 4 Days of Excitement April 9-12, 2018
NACDD/CDC s Walkability Action Institute Teams Year 1: State/Intra-State Regional Teams Year 2: MPO Regions Year 3: MPO Regions Year 4: MPO Regions
Meet the Team Mark Fenton, MS CDC Technical Assistance Provider; Adjunct Professor, Tufts University; Walkability Extraordinaire www.markfenton.com
Meet the Team (DREAM TEAM Course Faculty) Phil Bors, MPH Active Living By Design Charles Brown, MPA Rutgers University Ian Lockwood, PE, Toole Design Group Leslie Meehan, MPA, AICP, Tennessee Department of Health Hugh Morris, AICP, LEED, MA National Association of Realtors Amy Rauworth, MS, RCEP Lakeshore Foundation/NCHPAD Ian Thomas, PhD America Walks
Meet the Team (Additional Guest Speakers) Scot Hollonbeck Real Estate Developer, USA Athlete, Disability Advocate Peggy Merriss, MPA, City Manager, City of Decatur
Why Are We Here?
Eight Points to Set Up Our Work: 1) Americans should be more physically active. 2) But we re not. 3) Simply telling people doesn t necessarily help. 4) Supportive environments and policies do! 5) Four elements characterize active settings. 6) They lead to the triple bottom line! 7) It has to be policy level change... 8) Must benefit absolutely EVERYBODY.
How We Often Depict Physical Activity Anchorage AK Kingsport TN
Routine Activity, Not Just EXERCISE
Social Ecology Individual Group Institutional Community Public Policy Sallis and Owen, Physical Activity & Behavioral Medicine.
Four Elements of Active Design: www.activelivingresearch.org Land Use Network Safety & Access Site Design
The Triple Bottom Line Prosperity Planet People Healthy Economy Healthy People Healthy Environment
Priority: Full Community Engagement NJ Walk Audit Facilitator Training
Priority: Full Community Engagement MT walk audit training focused on including disability community and expertise. Helena, MT
Urban and Rural Settings www.bikewalkalliance.org www.epa.gov/smartgrowth
Role of MPOs in Mobilizing Community Health and Design
18 Our Streets Should be Public Assets Limited sidewalks No bicycle lanes Fast food, not fresh food Predatory lending Signs and electrical wires
Policy: Public Opinion 1st choice: improve and expand mass transit options 2nd choice: make communities more walkable & bike-friendly 3rd choice: build new or widen existing roadways
Prioritization: Project Scoring Criteria 2040 2035 Roadway Projects Scoring Criteria 100 100 points Quality Growth and and Sustainable Development Development 15pts 15pts Multi-Modal Options 15pts 15pts Health & Environment 15pts 10pts Safety & Security 20pts 10pts Congestion Management 15pts 10pts System Preservation && Enhancement Enhancement 10pts 15pts State & Local Local Support/ Support/ Investment Investment 5pts 15pts Freight & Goods Movement 10pts Freight & Goods Movement 5pts
Funding: Urban STP Investment Strategy 70% - Roadway projects that improve health 15% - Active Transportation Program Sidewalks, bicycle lanes, greenways, transit stops; education, enforcement and encouragement 10% Mass Transit Program Combined with FTA funds to help implement regional vision for mass transit 5% Regional ITS and Systems Operations Program Using technology to manage traffic
History of Transportation Planning and How to Change It Going Forward
Something s Highway Removals Happening Late Adopters Taking Action Arterial Calming and Road Diets Demographic Shifts Slow Streets Values Changing
Traditional Values Design for Short Trips Transit-Oriented Walkable Proximity Important Mixed Land Use Connected Street Network Access is Key Buildings Address Streets Slow Speeds
Volume Traditional Conception of Access and Throughput Throughput Access Local Collector Arterial
Modern Conception of the Purpose of Streets Access Throughput Local Collector Arterial
Conventional/Modernist Values Reward Long Trips Automobile Focus Speed Important Single Use Land Use Dendritic Street Hierarchy Congestion is Bad Individually Appealing
Mobility The movement of people and goods. Assumption: faster, farther, and in greater numbers means progress for society
Mobility The populations capabilities and strategies to move in order to access what they need to live within the city. Many Populations: young people, elderly, people with disabilities, different income levels, millennials, pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, students,
Mobility The populations capabilities and strategies to move in order to access what they need to live within the city. Social/recreation: 24.5% Work: 18.0% Family/personal: 24.2% Work-related: 2.6% Doctor/dentist: 1.5% Shop: 20.2% School and church: 8.8% Other: 0.2%
Conventional/Modernist Modern Approach vs Traditional Approach Approach Policy, Funding, Street, Highway,
Creating Walkable Communities for EVERYONE
Disability Impacts ALL of Us CDC: 1 in 5 adults or over 53 million people in the US live with a disability Adults with disabilities are 3 times more likely to have heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer than adults without disabilities Nearly half of all adults with disabilities get no aerobic physical activity, an important health behavior to help avoid these chronic diseases Disability is a health disparity NOT a health outcome! http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/disabilities/ Courtney-Long EA, Carroll DD, Zhang Q, et al. Prevalence of Disability and Disability Type among Adults, United States 2013. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2015; 64: 777-783.
Addressing Barriers to Inclusion Identified categories of barriers to inclusive services include: Architectural Programmatic Attitudinal
Inclusive Complete Streets Policy It is the policy of the City of Birmingham to develop a safe, reliable, efficient, integrated and connected multimodal transportation network that will provide access, mobility, safety and connectivity for all users, and will ensure that the safety and convenience of all users of the transportation system are accommodated, including motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, users of public transportation, emergency responders, freight providers, people of all ages and abilities, and adjacent land owners.
Creating Walkable Communities for EVERYONE Charles Brown, Rutgers University Equity Expert
5 P s: People, Place, Power, Perspective and Perseverance
Walkable Communities for Everyone: People Facts: People of color and older adults are overrepresented among pedestrian deaths Native Americans and African-Americans are at a higher risk of being killed while walking Adults 65 years and older are at a higher risk of being killed while walking The needs and concerns of women in planning and design are often overlooked The needs and concerns of ADA populations are often overlooked
Walkable Communities for Everyone: People Source: Dangerous by Design, 2016
Walkable Communities for Everyone: Place Fact: Not all communities are created equally Poor neighborhoods and communities of color have some of the most dangerous pedestrian infrastructure Bad planning and design can impact women s safety, movement and even income Incomplete streets restrict equitable access to health and mobility Pedestrian deaths aren t context-sensitive; they happen everywhere
Existing Conditions: Newark, New Jersey
Proposed Improvements: Newark, New Jersey
Walkable Communities for Everyone: Power Facts: There is a power imbalance in many communities throughout the US Minorities and low-income communities often lack access to real political power Minorities and low income communities are often not engaged in the transportation decision-making process Historic disinvestment in and maintenance of pedestrian infrastructure in low-income and communities of color The needs and concerns of women in planning and design are often overlooked The needs and concerns of ADA populations are often overlooked
Strategy: Equitable Funding/Infrastructure Changes
Strategy: Public Engagement and Empowerment
Walkable Communities for Everyone: Perspective Definition: A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view Fact: What you see is just as important as what you do not see Without data, all you have is an opinion Our environment, the world in which we live and work, is a mirror of our attitudes and expectations. What gets measured gets done.
Walkable Communities for Everyone: Perseverance Definition: Perseverance is steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success Important Questions to Consider: What will help you remain committed to creating or working with others to create walkable communities? What is your or your community s WHY?
Walk Audits
During the Walk, Ask 4 Questions: 1. Land Use: Different types of destinations; live, learn, work, shop, play, pray? 2. Network of Facilities: Quality sidewalks, bike lanes, trails, transit, connected? 3. Site Design: Buildings at sidewalk or set back; bike parking; inviting and functional? 4. Safety and Access: ADA access, crossings, traffic (too much, near, or fast); other dangers?
During the Group Work and Discussion: Mix disciplines in the groups. Don t let all engineers or advocates or developers sit together. Make sure everyone contributes. Ideally have big maps and pens for all. Insist on ideas under all of Ps. It assures that everyone has a role in implementation.
The Three P s A Simple Man s Social Ecology Model! http://everybodywalk.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/6c873ba7-18b0-4268-8436-f1aaf50f8545.png
Require Ideas from All Three P s!!! Programs: Events, education, awareness, plans, support, skills. Projects: Improve the infrastructure for walking, cycling, transit. Policies: Ordinances, practices, procedures to support active modes as the default choice. Waverly Middle School
To Policy, from Pilots Many will-intended folks will say: But we don t know how to... But it costs too much... But we re afraid of change...
How about Trying Stuff?! Pop-Up Curb Extension Anaconda, MT
Penitas, TX Chalk and Cone Crosswalk!
Whitefish, MT
Diagonal Parking Increases On-Street Capacity, BUT... Reverse Angle: Des Moines, IA Less severe and costly collisions Safer for bikes Pedestrians out of the road
https://www.nar.realtor/topics/smart-growth/publications/on-common-ground Getting the Private Sector on Board
The Private-Sector View of Walkability Realtors a (brief) introduction Demand for walkable neighborhoods Walkable neighborhoods the goose that laid the golden egg Try breaking the law!
Higher Density with Mixed Uses Enables Modes of Travel Other Than The Car (walking, biking, transit).
Advocacy for Walkable Communities
Surgeon General s Call to Action on Walking and Walkable Communities Goal 1: Make walking a national priority. Goal 2: Design communities that make it safe and easy to walk for people of all ages and abilities. Goal 3: Promote programs and policies to support walking where people live, learn, work, and play. Goal 4: Provide information to encourage walking and improve walkability. Goal 5: Fill surveillance, research, and evaluation gaps related to walking and walkability.
Is This A Walkable Community?
How about These Neighborhoods?
National Health Care Expenditures
Behavior and Environment It is unreasonable to expect people to change their behavior when so many forces in the environment conspire against such change Institute of Medicine
We Need A Village Public Health Planning Professionals Transportation Engineers Local Elected Officials Community Advocates Walking Group Leaders Law Enforcement Education
Team Action Planning Time 9:15 am 10:00 am
How to Deliver Walkability with Complete Streets Policies Charles Brown, Dad of Three (but all three little!)
Benefits of Complete Streets
How to Make Walkability Truly Matter to Municipalities
1. Traffic Safety 1. The most important factor in transportation planning is safety. 1. All traffic deaths and serious injuries are preventable and, therefore, unacceptable. 1. Transportation systems should be designed so user errors are not fatal.
2. Public Health In 1969, 50% of American children walked to school In 2006, just 15% walked to school
2. Public Health
Adult Obesity 2. Public Health
2. Public Health
3. Social Justice
3. Social Justice
4. Cost of Roads and Highways Cost of a 5 wide sidewalk: $100,000 - $500,000 per mile Cost of a 4-lane highway: $4 million - $20 million per mile
5. Economic Development Vanderbilt Avenue Brooklyn, NY March, 2007 July, 2007
5. Economic Development Photo: WALC Institute, Main Street Batesville
5. Economic Development Photo: WALC Institute, Main Street Batesville
Vision &Mission Statements Vision Statement: We envision a multimodal transportation network to make Alaska a safer and more livable place for people of all ages and abilities. Mission Statement: The mission of the ITE Alaska Active Transportation Committee is to generate ideas and expand engineering practices in walking, bicycling and public transit by improving safety, health, and accessibility for all.
Committee Values This is WHY Improve health Equity Economic development World-class Infrastructure Safety Education Vision Zero (moving toward zero deaths) The vision of Complete Streets All ages and abilities infrastructure Prioritizing accessibility, not simply mobility All-season active transportation options
Short and long term GOALS Coordinate between all the non-motorized programs/plans/policies (Vision Zero, Live.Work.Play., Anchorage Parks Foundation Trails Initiative, AMATS Non-Motorized Plan, Alaska Statewide Bike and Ped Master Plan, Land Use Plan, etc.) Coordinate between advocacy groups and community councils Offer a CPTED training class in 2019. Research possible Bike-Share in Anchorage. Work with transit on installing bike hooks inside buses. Safe and secure bike parking. Provide resources and examples of national best practices to local agencies Provide research to address common obstacles Obtain FHWA interim approval for progressive treatments Develop contextualized design guidance for Alaska, with an emphasis on rural guidance Present national best practices and benefits of active transportation to the community Encourage local adoption of national transportation initiatives Suggest updates to current design criteria and specifications Involve DOT and MOA maintenance in quarterly committee meetings Using technical expertise to assist in coordination between designers, agencies, maintenance crews and the public through rewriting of policy and outreach.