Making Healthy Connections: Health in Transportation Corridor

Planning FrameworkVictoria B. Martinez, AICP

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)February 19, 2019

Notice

This presentation does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.

• FHWA and Health • Why Support Active, Healthy,

Connected Communities? • Health in Transportation Corridor

Planning Framework - Development, Content, Case Studies

• What’s Happening Now? Current Technical Assistance

Making Healthy Connections: Objectives

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• Mission - A highway system that promotes safety, mobility, and economic growth, while enhancing the quality of life of all Americans.

• Committed to, the avoidance of potential impacts to the social/natural environment of proposed transportation projects.

• Works with State and local transportation agencies to reduce on-road emissions while improving mobility.

• Works with partners to create and maintain a safe and accessible transportation system for all users.

• Supporting stakeholders means emphasizing multimodal, healthy enhancements as tools to leverage investments and improve economic opportunities.

Making Healthy Connections: FHWA

Does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation 3

Making Healthy Connections - Why Support Active, Healthy, Connected Communities?

Building active, healthy, connected communities provides1. Air quality improvements/Noise reduction 2. Injury prevention3. Increased physical activity → Lower risk of obesity4. Shorter commute → Increased sense of community belonging →

Improved mental health5. Access to employment, school → Social determinants of health →

Improves health inequities

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specification, or regulation

• To support State and local transportation agencies that want to expand partnerships to better consider health in their transportation corridor planning, FHWA developed the Framework for Better Integrating Health into Transportation Corridor Planning (Framework), and published case studies on the experience

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/health_in_transportation/https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/health_in_transportation/planning_framework/https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/health_in_transportation/planning_framework/framework_test_cases/index.cfm

Making Healthy Connections: FHWA

Does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation 5

Making Healthy Connections: Health in Transportation Corridor Planning Framework

• What is it and how does it work?– Steps common to corridor planning – Information specific to integrating health – Practitioners apply the information during a corridor

planning study

Does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation 6

Making Healthy Connections: Health in Transportation Corridor Planning Framework

Does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation

• Why a Transportation Corridor Planning Framework?

- Use established process- Flexible

Making Healthy Connections: Health in Transportation Corridor Planning Framework

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From the Guiding Principles:• The community and its needs are the focus• The intended audience is transportation

practitioners; recognizing public health professionals as important potential partners.

• The framework supports transportation practitioners motivated to incorporate health and illustrate to others how this is beneficial and achievable.

Making Healthy Connections: Health in Transportation Corridor Planning Framework

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Making Healthy Connections: Health in Transportation Corridor Planning Framework

Results – Akron METROAkron, Ohio

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Akron METRO – South Arlington

Worked with influential partners: County Public Health Department, Metropolitan Housing Authority, and East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation, Safe Routes to School, South Arlington United Methodist Church

Collected food desert maps, data on health care providers, information about the transportation needs of residents

Used data, outreach, survey work and collaboration to design stop consolidation plan to improve connectivity, and protect access while improving travel time and schedule adherence

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Results – DVRPCCamden, New Jersey

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DVRPC Haddon Ave.

Identify projects and programs with best connectivity and health-related outcomes for the local community achieved with Advocacy group participation

Using public health needs to prioritize infrastructure investments, coupled with increased awareness, was a mandate to consider health outcomes and generated support for improvements in the corridor

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Results – ECWRPCAppleton, Wisconsin

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ECWRPC College Ave

Multidisciplinary stakeholder group

New understanding health impacts of transportation

Options showed enhancements can serve

all interests

Understanding the mutual benefits Built support for

implementing the recommendations

Establish priorities to promote public health

Interconnected multimodal networks

An environment where businesses want to locate

Increased mobility opportunities for all

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Results – EMBARKOklahoma City, OK

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EMBARK - ClassenBoulevard/Northwest Expressway

Community visioning process engaged stakeholders in considering improvements using a health-in-planning approach to identify goals, access for all users, and develop more inclusive

evaluation criteria for project-selection

Used support as a mandate to convince decision makers to fund corridor improvements that provide opportunities for physical activity,

access to health related resources, improved air quality, expanded connectivity for

transportation disadvantaged, and safe multi-modal accommodations

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Results – Tennessee Department of Transportation

Nashville, Tennessee

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Tennessee DOT – SR-109

Partnered with stakeholders to identify public health needs, set goals and develop evaluation criteria, so as to positively impact growth and development

Establishing health priorities for the corridor resulted in new goals: increasing safety for all roadway users, strengthening coordination with emergency response partners, designing facilities to accommodate multimodal transportation needs

Understanding the health and mobility needs of the population along the corridor and improved decision making by being more inclusive. TDOT institutionalized the commitment to improving consideration of health impacts during transportation planning by developing a Guidance Document to be used on future corridor studies

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Lessons Learned

Benefits of using the Framework and Lessons Learned: • Begin with needs not solutions• Questions meant overall better outcome• Additional partners• New data and resources • Relationship building takes time • Leadership comes in many forms• Process important as product

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• Where can you get the Framework?

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/health_in_transportation/planning_framework/the_framework/index.cfm

Making Healthy Connections: Health in Transportation Corridor Planning Framework

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What’s Happening Now?

• Why Support Active, Healthy, Connected Communities

• Health in Transportation Corridor Planning Framework - Development, Content, Case Studies

• Current Technical Assistance

Making Healthy Connections: Health in Transportation Corridor Planning Framework

Summary

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Questions?

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