Arizona ASNC Tool

1. Arizona ASNC Tool

2. Outline • Development • Team Approach • How it Works in AZ • Examples of the ASNC • Next Steps

3. Healthy community design • Increasing physical activity; • Reducing injury; • Increasing access to healthy food; • Improving air and water quality; • Minimizing the effects of climate change; • Decreasing mental health stresses; • Strengthening the social fabric of a community; and • Providing fair access to livelihood, education, and resources.

4. Driving to School • Fewer kids are biking and walking • 2001: 16% walked • 1969: 42% walked (CDC, 2005) • More parents are driving • 20%-25% of morning traffic (NHTSA 2003; Dept. of Environment)

5. What caused the shift?

6. School siting issues: A generation ago • Small schools • Located in community centers (EPA, 2003)

7. It’s not just distance Students who live within 1 mile and walk or bike: 2001: 63% 1969: 87% (CDC, 2005)

8. Frequent barriers to walking and bicycling to school • Long distances 62% • Traffic danger 30% • Adverse weather 19% • Fear of crime danger 12% Note: Sum of percentages is more than 100% because respondents could identify more than one barrier. (CDC, 2005)

9. The consequences of less walking and bicycling? • For the environment • For individual health

10. The Light Bulb • School Siting

11. Advisory Group • State SRTS Programs • Health and medical interests • City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department • Other SRTS national organizations • School facilities organizations • Pedestrian and bicycle interests • National Trust for Historic Preservation • Federal agencies

12. Funding • Communities Putting Prevention to Work • Partnership between Arizona Department of Health Services and Arizona Department of Transportation

13. Good news! Communities are taking action on behalf of children through Safe Routes to School and the Active School Neighborhood Checklist! Winston-Salem, NC Alhambra, CA Phoenix, AZ

14. What is the ASNC? • ASNC is a quantitative tool for assessing the potential long-term health impacts of school sites on the children who will attend them. • Walkable school sites provide more opportunities for students to be physically active. • Proposed or existing school sites

15. Team Approach In order to properly complete the ASNC -- use a team approach: 1) Technical/engineering - Traffic, transportation, or civil engineer 2) School - Principal or assistant principal - School nurse - PTA, PTO, booster club 3) Health - Physical education teacher - County health department representative - State department of public health representative - Other health/wellness professional

16. Team Approach In order to properly complete the ASNC -- use a team approach: 4) Community - Other parent representative - Other community partners 5) School district - Transportation coordinator - Risk management director - School health advisory council member 6) City/policy - Transportation, transit, or public works department - City bicycle and pedestrian coordinator - Planning department representative - Police/school resource officer

17. Walkabout After you assemble your team, it is highly advisable to conduct a ‘walkabout.’ A walkabout is an assessment of the built environment of your school and its surrounding neighborhoods on foot. On what dates did you hold your walkabout? Who attended your walkabout?

18. Example of ASNCThe Walking / Bicycling (W/B) Zone • Area within the school’s enrollment boundary, in which students realistically can walk or bike to school because it is close enough for them to do so. • A good W/B Zone will offer students and other residents a high potential for travelling by foot or by bike. Example >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> This middle school enrollment area exceeds one mile in radius and creates a prohibitively long walking/bicycling trip for students who live in the shaded areas. 1/2 mile (Elementary schools) > 1 mile << (Middle schools) school 1½ miles <<< (High schools)

19. Example Step 2 – Walking/Bicycling (W/B) Zone Barriers Estimate the % of your enrollment area that is free of W/B Zone barriers: - Freeways - Rivers, railroads, or irrigation canals (unbridged) - Streets with more than four lanes - Busy streets that lack sidewalks on BOTH sides - Streets with posted speed limits of 40 mph or greater - Lack of continuous streets or sidewalks with walking or biking access Barriers? school Walking boundary

20. Example: School and Property School School School Street Streets Street Scenario 2: 1 street, adjacent to school property Scenario 1: 1 street, dead- endingat school Scenario 3: 2 or more streets adjacent to property How many public streets service the property? • 2 lanes • 4 lanes • 5 or more lanes

21. Example School and Property Speed Limits Traffic lanes Number of vehicles

22. Example Curb Radius Small radius Medium radius Large radius

23. Example Remedial Facilities Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (HAWK) Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacon (RRFB)

24. Example Connectivity and Convenience Cul-de-sacs Conventional cul-de-sac Cul-de-sac with walkway

25. ASNC Applicants What ASNC applicants receive: All receive Additional Points on SRTS Application Lower scoring applicants: Higher scoring applicants: Planning assistance Public recognition Technical assistance ASNC banner Grant writing assistance APPROVED!

26. Where are we Now • Paper Version • Rolling Applications • Trainings • Public Recognition • Banners

27. Next Steps • Develop an Online Checklist • Immediate Feedback • Sustainable • Regional Trainings – Diverse Reach • Increase Awareness • Increase Usability

28. For More Information Brian Fellows Cynthia Melde Arizona Dept. of Transportation Arizona Dept. of Health Services SRTS Program Coordinator Nutrition & Physical Activity Manager (602) 712-8010 (602) 364-3918 bfellows@azdot.govcynthia.melde@azdhs.gov Download a copy of the ASNC: http://www.azdot.gov/Highways/swprojmgmt/Enhancement_Scenic/saferoutes/SafeRoutes_Common/Documents_Application.asp