Transcript Integrating Health into Community Design Tina Zenzola, MPH Safe & Healthy Communities Consulting (619) 281-1656 [email protected] New Partners for Smart Growth Conference , 2005

Integrating Health into
Community Design
Tina Zenzola, MPH
Safe & Healthy Communities Consulting
(619) 281-1656
[email protected]
New Partners for Smart Growth Conference , 2005
Active living and other public
health efforts to change the
built environment
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Existing Conditions
SHCC
Safe, Active and
Healthy Communities
Active living and other public
health efforts to change the
built environment
Land Use &
Transportation
Planning Process
Existing Conditions
SHCC
Safe, Active and
Healthy Communities
Land Use Planning
• How communities decide what gets built
where (and what it looks like)
• County, city, community (& regional)
levels
• Planning dept.; community advisory
council; planning commission; electeds,
(MPO)
• Key policies & processes:
SHCC
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Master plan & community plans
Zoning
Redevelopment, revitalization
Subdivision Plans
Development Review
Bike and Pedestrian Master Plans
Capital Improvement Projects
Transportation Planning
• How regions decide what
types of transportation
systems are built and/or
improved
• Federal, state & regional
level
• FHWA; DOT; MPO; transit
agencies
• Key policies & processes:
– Regional Transportation Plan
– Regional Comprehensive Plan
SHCC
Traffic Engineering
• The designs, standards and
processes for traffic operations
and safety (streets, sidewalks)
• County & city level
• FHWA; state DOT; public
works/traffic engineering dept;
(ITE)
• Key policies & processes:
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SHCC
Street design standards
Traffic calming protocols
Warrants
Maintenance programs
Capital Improvement Projects
Strategic Levels for Integrating
Health and Active Living
Upstream
Influence the
overarching
vision,
policies &
standards
SHCC
Midstream
Interject
healthy
design into
slated
projects
Downstream
Retrofit
yesterday’s
mistakes
Downstream: retrofit yesterday’s
mistakes
 Safe Routes to
School projects
 Residential traffic
calming
 Improve intersection
near senior housing
SHCC
School Routes in Marin County
• Broad coalition; lead =
bike group
• Identified walkability
problems
• Safety and PA as key
messages
• Mobilized schools,
community
• Safety improvements &
increased awareness
Photo: www.pedbikeimages.org / Dan Burden
Midstream: interject healthy design
into slated projects
 Redevelopment/revitalization projects
 Capital improvement projects
 Development Review
SHCC
Transportation Justice in Oakland, CA
• Scrapped BART’s original
plan for a parking garage
• Result = TOD with mixed
housing, shops, offices,
library, child care, health
clinic, ped plaza
• Health benefits =
reduced traffic & air
pollution; increased
walking & transit; access
to services
SHCC
Fruitvale Transit Village, Oakland
Saving a Rural Main Street
• Road widening - capital
“improvement” project
• Land uses ignored
• Walkability jeopardized
• Negative impact on
businesses & community
• Advocates provide safety
message & design
alternatives
• Result: County DPW
changed it’s plan & policy
SHCC
Upstream: influence the overarching
vision, polices and standards
SHCC
Funding Walkable Communities in
Sacramento’s RTP
Photo: www.pedbikeimages.org / Dan Burden
SHCC
• Diverse coalition of
advocates
• Public health=major
player & issue
• Outcome=3% of
RTP for
pedestrian/bike
facilities ($631M)
Pedestrian Guidelines in San Diego
• Walkable Advisory
Committee to MPO
• Public health at the table
• Serves as guide to cities
in the region
• $1 million in
demonstration grants
• Adoption &
Implementation ????
Revise Street Design Standards
• Make it possible to
build safe streets
• Institutionalize
pedestrian friendly
design
• Provide models from
other communities
• Monitor adherence
to new standards
SHCC
Photo: www.pedbikeimages.org / Dan Burden
Move upstream for the greatest impact
Neighborhood,
city, county,
regional level
SHCC
Strip mall, transit
node
Intersection, school
route
Upstream
Midstream
Downstream
Influence the
overarching vision,
policies &
standards
Interject healthy
design into slated
projects
Retrofit
yesterday’s
mistakes
Getting Sidewalks on School Routes:
from Baby Steps to Big Steps
• Get routine
accommodation
w/all CIPs
• Include in
community
plan update
• SR2S Project
• WSD event
with walk audit
• Schools, school
area
• Community
• Ducks lined up
• Change local
standards to
require 5ft
sidewalks
• Citywide
• Develop a
pedestrian
master plan
• Citywide
• DPW, Planning
• Standards/Policy
• Citywide
• DPW, Planning
• Standards/Policy
• MPO, DPW,
Planning
• Money lined up
SHCC
State Health Agencies: Your Role
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Bring attention to the issue
Integrate health into state level Smart Growth efforts
Collaborate across health programs
Collaborate with state DOT
Build capacity of local programs
California’s LPHBE Project
• Regional Trainings
• Technical Assistance
• Mini-grants
• Networking
Collaborating with public health
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Credible voice
Neutral and skilled convener
Provide the “public health” rationale
Bring the health data and scientific rigor
Link to under-represented groups
Access to new funding streams
But, politics may be a barrier to participation
SHCC
Safe & Healthy Communities Consulting
Linking health and community design
4544 Kensington Drive
San Diego, CA 92116
(619) 281-1656
[email protected]