Session 8 -- Transportation and Health: How well-thought-out planning can lead to better health

Moderator, Mr. Dennis Scott, Florida Department of Transportation State Pedestrian/Bicycle Coordinator
Ms. Alice A. Jaglowski, MSH, CHES, Department of Health, Program Administrator Obesity Prevention Program
Mr. Daniel Parker, MSP, Assistant Division Director Division of Environmental Health, Florida Department of Health -- Presentation
Ms. Pat Pieratte, Florida Department of Transportation, Safe Routes to School Coordinator -- Presentation

This session informed attendees of the issues surrounding the built environment and fitness of the population. Dennis Scott informed the attendees of the upcoming conference related to this session topic. “The Healthy Community Makeovers: Design and Programs for Active and Healty Lifestyles” conference will be held August 27 – 30, 2007.

Summary of issues:

Alice A. Jaglowski discussed the importance of linking transportation planning and obesity prevention goals. Obesity trends steadily increased between 1987 and 2003, and they continue to increase. A part of the problem is contributed to communities being designed with no sidewalks or bike lanes. There is an established linkage between physical activity and the built environment, both of which influence the behavior of individuals. Behavior changes to encourage more exercise is difficult if the environment around individuals does not allow them to implement what is being learned.

Alice summarized the findings and recommendations of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Special Report 282: Does the Built Environment Influence Physical Activity?

Report 282 Findings: There is a decrease in the amount of physical activity among Americans. The built environment can increase or decrease physcial activity. The relationship between the built environment andphysical activity is largely understudied. More research is needed on community design issues. More work is needed with policy makers, planners, developers, and engineers.

Report 282 Recommendations: Provide Congressional appropriations for research; expand national public health and transportation surveys; encourage collaboration between state departments of health and transportation; encourage universities to create interdisplinary studies between health and transportation planning.

Alice also talked about the Florida Department of Health’s recent initiatives in this area:

• 2004 – Governor Bush created Task Force on Obesity Epidemic;
• 2007- Governor Crist created a Council on Physical Fitness;
• DOH – Program: Step up, Florida – Healthy Communities Program;
• Physically Activity Month – February – called Step up Florida (www.stepupflorida.org)

Daniel Parker explained why transportation is a public health function. In today’s world nearly all travel is done by car, the percent of chidren who walk to school has droped significantly, and there are fewer parks and trails being built in lower income neighborhoods. In Florida the current population is 18 million and growing, 60 percent of adults are overweight or obese, 26 percent of high school students are overweight, and 28 percent of low-income children between ages 2 and 5 are overweight.

Daniel discussed the results of a community survey revealing what the community thinks about how their evironment affects the state of their health. Some of the issues identified in the survey as impeding the state of health included: lack of sidewalks, lack of bike lanes, being cut off from other neighborhoods, heavy traffic, noise, hazardous waste, speeding, no street lights/insufficient lighting, and safety. Daniel discussed how the following smart growth principles can be applied to help save Florida’s transportation system.

• Mix land uses
• Take advantage of compact building design
• Create a range of housing opportunities and choices
• Create walkable neighborhoods
• Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place
• Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective
• Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas
• Provide a variety of transportation choices
• Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities
• Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration

Pat Pieratte discussed how the built environment can facilitate or constrain physical activity. Pat also discussed several initiatives underway which promote livable communites focusing on health and increased physical activity.

The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program promotes increased walking/biking and improved safety for school aged children. The need for SRTS programs was based on the reality of fewer kids walking and/or biking to school, which has brought about unintended results. Most children are not getting the physical activity they need and the number of overweight and obese children has increased. The most common barriers to walking/biking to school include: long distances, traffic danger, adverse weather, and fear of crime. Pat also discussed the five elements of the Safe Routes to School Program: Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, Engineering and Evaluation.

Pat informed the participants of Florida’s Safe Routes to School Program’s federal award of $28.7 million through 2009. This funding will be distributed to the seven FDOT Districts and will be managed by the Districts under state guidelines. State guidelines and applications were issued in November 2006 and the first call for applications is now completed.

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