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

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
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.
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



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Pedestrian injuries
Air pollution and asthma
Climate change contribution
Car crashes
 Mental health impacts
 Social capital, social isolation
 Terrorism, crime
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
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).
Barriers to Health and Physical Activity:
Is Community Design Part of the Problem?
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Separated land uses
High traffic speeds
Auto-dominated community design
Large lots
Ignoring human scale
Prohibited connections between origins and
destinations
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., environment, 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.
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
Why People are Reluctant to Walk:
It’s All About Safety
1.
Motorists speed in my
neighborhood.
5.
People are intimidated by
crime in my neighborhood.
2.
There are no sidewalks in my
neighborhood or parts of
sidewalks are missing.
6.
People don’t want to walk in
my neighborhood at night.
7.
My neighborhood is not a nice
place to walk, there is trash
everywhere and buildings are
not kept up.
8.
My neighborhood looks
barren, there are no trees and
buildings are too far from the
street.
3.
Sidewalks are broken,
cracked, or blocked by
obstacles in my neighborhood.
4.
There are no safe or easy
ways to cross the streets in
my neighborhood.
Neighborhood Walking Guide http://www.walkinginfo.org
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.
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.
Barriers to Walking or Bicycling
to School (as identified by parents)
55% said distance; 40% said danger
And is it any wonder why?
Source: MMWR 2002;51(32):701-704
Photo: Frederick County, Md. Public Schools
Impact of Community Design on Activity
Composite Indices
Outcome
Density, design, land-use mix
Increase non-auto commuting
Aesthetically pleasing and perceived Increase in non-auto trips in areas
as safe components
that are safer and more aesthetically
desirable
Provision of sidewalks, street lights,
length of block, presence of planting
strips, lighting distance, and terrain
features
Increase in non-auto trips in areas
with high pedestrian-friendly
pedestrian safety factors
Quality of sidewalks, street
crossings, transit amenities, and
proximity to services
Increase in non-auto trips in areas
with higher transit friendliness factors
Sources: Cervero (1999); Cambridge Systematics (1994); Cervero and Kockelman (1997); Douglas et al. (1997); Ewing et al.
(2001)
“Health Promoting” Community Design
• Pedestrian-oriented
design
• Compact, mixed use,
diverse housing
• Traffic calming
• Connectivity and
destinations
• More transportation
choices
• Open and recreational
space
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
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
2. Rethinking State and
Local Planning
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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
How Health and Physical Activity Fit into
State and Local Planning
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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
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
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
4. Site Design and Development
• 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
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
5. Siting and Use of Public Facilities
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Public Spaces
Schools
Post offices
Libraries
Museums
Parks
Plazas
City Hall
Campuses
Community Centers
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
Moving Upstream for Broader Impact
Neighborhood/
City/Region
Downtown/Strip
Mall/School Site
Upstream
Influence overarching policies,
practices and
processes
Midstream
Interject health
into current
development
projects
Street/School
Route/Intersection
Downstream
Retrofit existing
problems
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
Thank You!
Marya Morris, AICP
American Planning Association
[email protected]