The Transportation and Shared Use Solution: Strategies to reduce costs, decrease liability, improve academics, health and the environment. Susan Motika, J.D., Sandra Hoyt Stenmark, M.D., and Taber Stark Ward kp.org/communitybenefit
What is the Problem?
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
kp.org/communitybenefit
Barriers to Walking-Photovoices
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
kp.org/communitybenefit
Schools Located Across Highways or Multi-Lane High Speed Roadways are Hazardous for Pedestrians and Bicyclists
kp.org/communitybenefit
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Full Cost Analysis of Locating Schools at the Edge of Towns
together
• Busing expenses • Long term energy costs • Road expansion • Water utilities, sewage • Fiber optics • Fire and rescue services • Environmental costs (air and water pollution) • Economic impact on neighborhood • Loss of agricultural land
kp.org/communitybenefit
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Walking and Bicycling to School Falling, Obesity on the Rise
kp.org/communitybenefit
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Driving is a Risk Factor for Obesity
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Increase in obesity risk per hour in a car: 6% Walking and biking reduces obesity and diabetes Driving is a risk factor for obesity 30%
27%
% obese (BMI>30)
25%
18%
20%
14%
15%
10% 10% 5% 0%
First Quartile
Second Quartile
Third Quartile
Vehicle Miles Traveled kp.org/communitybenefit 7
Source: Lopez-Zetina, Health and Place, 2006
Fourth Quartile 7
Environmental Impact: Air Quality
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
• Traffic emissions have been linked to premature death, cardiac symptoms, diminished lung function, lung cancer and asthma • One-third of the population lives in areas where air pollution levels exceed the U.S. EPA’s health based standards for air quality http://www.oar.noaa.gov/weather/t_understanding.html
kp.org/communitybenefit 8
Environmental Benefits: Hourly Measures of Fine Particulate Levels
kp.org/communitybenefit
Rabinovitch, Am J Resp Crit Care Med Vol 173 p1098-1105, 2006
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Asthma Prevalence
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Above 50% African American Above 75% Hispanic 50-75% Hispanic >75% free/reduced lunch ≥ 10% asthma prevalence ≥ 15% asthma prevalence
www.epa.gov/schoolair/basic.html kp.org/communitybenefit
Colorado Child Health Survey 2009
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
walks to school 5 days/week does not meet physical activity guidelines 5 days/week overweight prevalence
asthma prevalence 0%
kp.org/communitybenefit
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
One Year Prevalence of Disorders for Children 8-15 Years of Age
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/images/NHANES-OverallPrevalence-FINAL720.jpg kp.org/communitybenefit
Traffic Injuries
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Motor vehicles are responsible for one of every five deaths in children 1-14 National Center for Health Statistics
Child pedestrian injury more common if: • high traffic volumes • lower income • younger age Wazana, Inj Prev 1997;3:295-304
kp.org/communitybenefit
A Good Solution Solves Many Problems Active transportation and shared use of allows schools to achieve a quadruple bottom line:
1. Academic benefits 2. Benefits to health 3. Environmental benefits 4. Community and parent engagement
kp.org/communitybenefit
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
TRAFFIC INJURIES
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Studies of safe routes to school demonstrate a 50% decrease in child pedestrian & cyclist accidents SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL 2009 POLICY REPORT
kp.org/communitybenefit
Academic Benefits of Physical Activity
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
• Improves academic achievement (including grades and standardized test scores).
• Impacts cognitive skills. • Enhances concentration and attention as well as improved classroom behavior. CDC:The association between school based physical activity, including physical education, and academic performance. U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services; 2010. kp.org/communitybenefit
Physical Activity Improves Learning
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
•Neurotransmitter release improves: alertness, attention, motivation &mood •Nerve cells bind more efficiently to one another •New nerve cells developed from stem cells in the hippocampus •Increase in brain blood vessel growth John Ratey, Spark: the Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain
kp.org/communitybenefit
Physical Activity in Natural Environments Systematic Review
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Outdoor exercise brings more positive effects on mental wellbeing than exercising indoors Outdoor exercise associated with revitalization, decreases in tension, confusion, anger, depression, and increased energy
Coon JT et al. Environ Sci Technol 2011.
kp.org/communitybenefit
Nature Reduces Childhood Stress
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
• Lower levels of stress in the child were noted with increased amount of exposure to natural environments
• The nature exposure effect was especially pronounced for children with the highest levels of stressful events
Wells NM & Evans GW. Environment and Behavior 2003;35:311-330. kp.org/communitybenefit
Natural Settings Reduced Inattentive Symptoms
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
• Inability to stay focused on unappealing tasks • Inability to complete tasks • Inability to listen and follow directions • Being easily distracted
Taylor AF et al. Environment and Behavior 2001;33:54-77.
kp.org/communitybenefit
Benefits of Shared Use & Community Centered Schools
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
• Efficient use of tax dollars with shared use of facilities with community & school district: ball fields, gym, library, theater, kitchen facilities, community garden, vehicles • School is connected to learning opportunities: museums, local businesses, library, universities • Parental and Community Engagement
www.epa.gov/schools/epaschoolsitingguidelines.pdf www.nplanonline.org/products/liabilitysurvey kp.org/communitybenefit
Community and Parent Engagement
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Who: Engaging a broad coalition of stakeholders: • “Hard to reach” parents and families • Community members who do not have children attending your school How: • New partnerships: city agencies, nonprofits, businesses, law enforcement, neighborhood associations, faith community groups kp.org/communitybenefit
Benefits of Community Use
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
• Schools across Colorado are already allowing community members and other partners to use their facilities and schools are using community resources. • “Local control” principles allow school districts to customize community use agreements to match local needs: • Recreation- playgrounds, gyms, and other facilities • Kitchen facilities • Vehicles- school buses and vans • Many model policies and practices exist and can be readily adapted to individual school district’s needs kp.org/communitybenefit
Legal Considerations
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Crossing Guard Liability: CRS § 13-21-115.6 (2) General Rule: Crossing guards are granted civil immunity from tort claims so long they are acting within their scope of duties. Crossing guards will not be protected if injury is caused by their act of wanton and/or willful negligence.
School Liability in a “No Car” Zone: General Rule: Generally, schools will be protected from premises liability by the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (CGIA) and a school will not be liable for injuries occurring on school grounds. However, if it is found that the school created a “dangerous condition” that was reasonably foreseeable in its planning and implementation of a “no car” zone, the school could face premises liability. kp.org/communitybenefit
Collaborative Planning Arapahoe County/ Cherry Creek Schools
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
• Joint planning – Cherry Creek School District Planner with the Arapahoe County • Connect City and County trails to schools by locating schools adjacent to drainage corridors • Shared use agreements: neighborhood parks and schools share ball fields and recreation facilities • Plan one elementary school in the center of a square mile of homes –students do not cross busy streets kp.org/communitybenefit
Collaborative Planning: Aurora Subdivision Regulations
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
• Locate schools at the intersection of: local & collector street for elementary schools collector & arterial for middle & high schools
• Locate schools centrally for the population to be served • All subdivisions shall include an interconnected system of sidewalks and trails that directly connect to all uses
• Open spaces that are used as trail corridors should connect with other trails whenever possible kp.org/communitybenefit
Coordinated Planning Aurora Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan • Develop a bicycle pedestrian master plan which emphasizes mobility, connectivity and accessibility
• Develop with police a data base for bicycle and pedestrian accidents
• Develop with public works a process to address crosswalk timing to improve safety
• Use CDOT counters to record bicycle and pedestrian trips kp.org/communitybenefit
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Safe Routes in Action
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
• Provide safe walkways separate from vehicles • Map safer routes by using walking and bicycle audits www.saferoutesinfo.org/guide/engineering/walking_and_bicycling_audits.cfm
• Inform department of public works of unsafe intersections, lack of sidewalks or safe bicycle lanes • Slow traffic in neighborhoods and near schools • Inform police department if speed enforcement needed • Enforce safe pick up and drop off procedures
kp.org/communitybenefit
Safe Routes in Action
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
• At registration organize sign up for walking school buses, bike trains and car pools www3.drcog.org/RideArrangers/Page/schoolpool • Designate remote drop offs for cars and bicycles along safer routes • Teach safe walking and bicycling practices to students and parents
kp.org/communitybenefit
Safe Routes- Loveland/Thompson
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
The City of Loveland Engineering Dept partners with Thompson School District to promote and coordinate SRTS. A central website includes: • Safety Tips • Maps • Report a Safety Problem • Request Speed Radar • Resources Winner of Tues average trips for 5 months • BF Kitchen 69% non motorized trips www.ci.loveland.co.us/publicworks/traffic/SafeRoutes.htm kp.org/communitybenefit
Safe Routes Bear Creek Elementary- Boulder
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
• Increase of active transportation from 25% -70% throughout the year • 36% reduction in traffic congestions • Principal role modeled active transportations • Classes participated in Tour de France • Bike Lessons and Safety Training are taught in PE • The City of Boulder’s Traffic Engineer & Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinator address safety concern www.saferoutesinfo.org/data-central/success-stories/bouldercolorado-culture-shift-changing-habits-entire-families kp.org/communitybenefit
Funding for Safe Routes Projects
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
• Safe Routes to School Grants www.coloradodot.info/programs/bikeped/safe-routes
Safe routes mini grant to obtain $1000.00 in funding http://minigrants.saferoutesinfo.org/
• Transportation Improvement Plans www.drcog.org/index.cfm?page=TransportationImprovementProgram(TIP)
• Community Development Block Grants • Federal Transportation Enhancement Funds • Fine based mechanisms (traffic fines in school zones) • School Safety Grants • CDOT Safety Grants • Live Well Colorado kp.org/communitybenefit
Thank You! Email: SMotika@cdphe.state.co.us Sandra.H.Stenmark@KP.org
kp.org/communitybenefit 33
together
WE BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE