Making Moore Connections Roxanne Leopper, MS FirstHealth of the Carolinas Community Health Services

Objectives For Today Introduce Making Moore Connections work Update on other municipalities work on increasing active transportation Update on Moore County Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) Review adoption of Complete Streets policy from NC DOT Importance of leveraging funding opportunities and aligning with county and other municipalities Review why planning for active transportation is important

Making Moore Connections Collaboration between health, planning, parks and recreation and the community Enhancing connectivity to increase opportunities for physical activity and increase access to healthy foods

Obesity and Chronic Disease in Moore County Adult obesity rate 28 percent reported in 2007 (PRC) vs for NC Childhood obesity rate 20 percent; overweight 17 percent (more obese than overweight) Diabetes prevalence 14.1 vs. 9.1 for NC Hypertension 33.6 percent vs for NC 51.3% of Moore County residents are sedentary (exercise less than 3 times per week for 20 minutes)

Summary of Other Municipalities Planning and Policies

Vass Summary Have two elementary schools (Cranes Creek and Vass-Lakeview) Leveraged grant funding to enhance park area near Vass-Lakeview Developing park survey (already has designated area; maintenance concern) Opportunity for pedestrian trail Seaboard Street which connects to library and park (1.3 mile trail); unites downtown, neighborhoods, parks and maybe school (have to build bridge over railway) Land use plan – conducive to be neighborhood community

Foxfire Summary Younger families moving into area In 2005, submitted and awarded grant for $450,000 to purchase 51 acres for park Currently has two pavilion areas Designs for new development area that includes elements of active transportation

Southern Pines Summary Have a formal greenway and park plan approved by town –Have extensive greenway trails –Have several open space park areas –Disc golf course at Reservoir Park Passed a DOT approved Bicycle Plan (2010) –Forming a Bicycle Advisory Committee approved by Town Council to steer implementation of Bicycle Plan –Committee will also assist with public education campaign –Taking advantage of DOT resurfacing to implement recommendations in Bicycle Plan (back-in parking; repainting share the road marks) –Town funded Phase One of the Bicycle Plan –Added bike lanes to new Harris Teeter Sidewalk Plan – Approved by Town of Southern Pines –Funded by Town Council (1 cent of taxes dedicated to sidewalk plan) –New developments require sidewalks by policy Currently have farmers market downtown Planning to redevelop downtown park

Village of Pinehurst Summary Updating Comprehensive Plan Has a development ordinance – beginning to rewrite policy standards (subcommittee meeting every other week) Currently requires sidewalks for new residential and businesses (single and both sides) –New developments – require pedestrian easements and open space requirements Going forward with local transportation plan, which will incorporate regional plan Working to align language of municipal policies with CTP language to preserve the connections

Village of Pinehurst (cont) Have farmers market downtown Adopted comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan (which includes open space, ETJ, and greenways) –Greenways – adopted 2003; 6.3 miles in 8 years –Trails grant funded to date in partnership with FirstHealth; just completed trail from PES to Library –Working to build trail to Route 5 businesses –West Pine Park – opening 9 hole disc golf course –Connections to Southern Pines on Airport Road –Connections to Aberdeen on Route 5

Aberdeen Summary Town adopted greenway plan in 2009 Town of Aberdeen passed DOT approved Pedestrian Plan in 2011 (grant funded) Currently working on DOT approved Bicycle Plan – to approve in 2012 (town funding) Link language from CTP to ALL plans (current and in development) Master sign plan in development –Tunnel sign and ramp update Unified Development Ordinance (zoning) - rolled language from Pedestrian Plan

Aberdeen (cont) Sidewalk requirements for commercial and neighborhood areas –Board actively funded development to complete the “sidewalks to nowhere” –Utilized youth photo journals to tell the story Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan in development –3 bodies of water –Trail Aberdeen Lake Park – join to Aberdeen Elementary –Trail to Southern Pines Middle – acquiring land –Leveraging some funds through DOT and Safe Routes to Schools New town website – introduces social media access

Moore County Summary Look to municipalities for DOT approved Bike/Pedestrian plans In process of Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) –Formed Moore County Transportation Committee –Want municipalities to be engaged –Want municipalities to align language and design guides in their plans –5 major intersection issues –Hosting interactive public meetings –Looking at more active transportation around businesses on 24/27; street scape improvements –Building public support for multimodal components to include greenways, public transportation

Moore County (cont) Currently updating Land Use Plan (typically every 5 – 10 years) –Sewer/water –Schools Parks and Recreation Plan for the county in development Attempting to align county budget with the plans Green Print Plan (using as foundation for parks & open space plan)

NC DOT Adopts Complete Streets Policy Adopted policy in 2009 Currently developing design guidelines –Align municipal language with new guidelines Implementation 2012/2013 Complete Streets –All new roads and any road improvements will consider all means of transportation to include pedestrian, bicycle, public and vehicles –Local policies typically have clause designating a dollar amount or percent above project cost to meet complete streets criteria (budget parameters)

NC DOT Grants To Municipalities In order to be eligible for implementation funding, municipalities must have DOT approved bicycle and pedestrian plans Planning grants available one time per year through NC DOT Approved plans kept on record and considered during repaving and/or new road projects; funding for implementation

Leveraging Funding As Region and Through Collaboration Approved plans are KEY Aligning language is essential Funding is available for implementation of plans, road improvements, open space, parks/rec, greenway trails Successful examples –Pinehurst and FirstHealth sidewalk Gun Club Road (COPDP - $100,000) –Fit Community (PES); Lowes food grant for internal walking trail –Village of Pinehurst connected school to library (based on photo journal project from students) –Aberdeen Tunnel Improvement –Implementation of Phase One of Bicycle Plan (town supported) –Aberdeen leveraged town funds for Bike Plan –SafeKids funding to improve crossing between Aberdeen Elementary School and the park

Why Should We Care Why Should We Plan Health of our community –Health care costs –Improving population health –Quality of life Economic development –Businesses are asking “obesity rate” as deciding factor for establishing headquarters/offices Public safety Home values increase if they are closer to trails/parks Developments with opens spaces, sidewalks, parks have higher home sales Higher walk scores equal higher home values Less pollution

Next Steps Making Moore Connections Adding capacity to collaborative – public works, policy makers Cultivating relationship with NC DOT Working to leverage funding collaboratively to expand active transportation and access to healthy foods (local level, grants, county level) Grassroots education Working to include active transportation option into CTP

Questions? Roxanne Leopper