Mayor Karl Dean, Chairman

Incorporating Health in

Regional Transportation Planning

Leslie A. Meehan, AICP Center TRT Intervention Webinar

January 29, 2013

nashvillempo.org

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

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Policy and Funding Successes

Health benefits of transportation

planning and projects:

Opportunity for physical activity

Reduced traffic crashes

Improved air quality

Access to healthy foods

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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

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Metropolitan Planning Organizations

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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

nashvillempo.org

Nashville Area MPO

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 Council

Regional Transportation Authority

Metropolitan Transit Authority

Franklin Transit Authority

Murfreesboro Public

Transportation

Metro Nashville Airport Authority

TN Dept of Environment &

Conservation

Federal Highway Administration

Federal Transit Administration

Regional Transportation Authority

Metropolitan Transit Authority

Franklin Transit Authority

Murfreesboro Public Transportation

Metro Nashville Airport Authority

TN Dept of Environment & Conservation

Federal Highway Administration

Federal Transit Administration

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 Council

nashvillempo.org

Making the Case for Health

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Development Pattern, 1965-2035

Properties affected by development

1965

750,000

2000

1,450,000

2035

2,600,000

(In 2035, the Nashville region will be

about the size of the Denver region today)

Population

nashvillempo.org

Resiliency in Urban Congestion

Daily Recurring Congestion on Major Roadways.

TODAY 2030

w/ Short-Term Improvements

2030 After Long-Term Improvements

Congestion in Urban Areas Cannot Be Treated with Roadway Capacity Alone.

nashvillempo.org

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/)

nashvillempo.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

nashvillempo.org

Transportation and Obesity

Obesity/Vehicle Miles Traveled in U.S.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1962 1974 1980 1994 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Adult Obesity % Childhood Obesity % (age 2-19)

VMT in bill ion miles

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

nashvillempo.org

Obesity Diabetes

Physical Inactivity Heart Disease

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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

nashvillempo.org

Developing Policy and Funding Strategies

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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 fuel-

consumption. 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

nashvillempo.org

Studies and Surveys

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 $

nashvillempo.org

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

nashvillempo.org

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

nashvillempo.org

#1 A Bold, New Vision

for Mass Transit

#2 Support for

Active Transportation & Walkable Communities

#3

Preservation & Enhancement of

Strategic Roadways

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What We Accomplished: A Regional Vision

Bikeways Sidewalks

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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)

nashvillempo.org

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%

MPO’s Urban STP Investment Strategy

nashvillempo.org

More Complete Streets

70% of adopted roadway projects include sidewalks, bicycle lanes, or shared-use lanes

(up from 2%)

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MPO’s Urban STP Investment Strategy

15% minimum investment in Active Transportation & Walkable Communities

Sidewalks, bicycle lanes, greenways, transit stops, and education

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

nashvillempo.org

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.nashvillempo.org/plans_programs/tip/ATP.aspx

nashvillempo.org

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

nashvillempo.org

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

nashvillempo.org

Ongoing Evaluation of Transportation & Health

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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

nashvillempo.org

Transportation, Physical Activity and Health Data Collection and Analysis

Transportation and Health study

nashvillempo.org

Preliminary Results – Health

Questions

33

Q2. How physically active are you in a typical week

Age Group Rarely/Never Light/Moderate Vigorous Total

<25 6.2% 49.3% 44.5% 2,859

25 - 34 7.9% 56.8% 35.3% 1,811

35 - 44 8.5% 58.4% 33.1% 1,576

45 - 54 8.4% 60.1% 31.5% 1,646

55 - 64 9.0% 63.8% 27.2% 1,907

65+ 13.2% 67.0% 19.9% 2,402

12,201

Q3. How healthy is your overall diet

Age Group Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor Total

<25 39.7% 38.5% 19.0% 2.5% 0.3% 2,885

25 - 34 10.3% 31.4% 40.8% 14.8% 2.7% 1,810

35 - 44 8.9% 32.3% 41.1% 14.6% 3.1% 1,580

45 - 54 10.3% 28.1% 42.5% 15.8% 3.3% 1,651

55 - 64 11.8% 31.3% 40.0% 13.4% 3.6% 1,913

65+ 11.3% 31.4% 41.5% 12.3% 3.5% 2,424

12,263

Q1. Average sitting time by age group

Age Range Average Hours Total

<25 6.88 2,465

25 - 34 8.03 1,608

35 - 44 7.80 1,368

45 - 54 7.72 1,432

55 - 64 7.53 1,674

65+ 6.75 2,175

*This table only looks at sit hours only 10,722

nashvillempo.org

Food Access and Transportation

Livability. Sustainability. Prosperity. Diversity.

Leslie A. Meehan, AICP Nashville Area MPO

meehan@nashvillempo.org

615-862-7211