1. Designing Healthy Communities S tate Land Use Strategies that Support Healthy Lifestyles John D. Ratliff, Esq., Assoc. AIA National Governors Association Center for Best Practices 202-624-7740 jratliff@nga.org NGA Policy Academy on Chronic Disease Prevention and Management Dec. 1-3, 2004

2. Today I’ll talk about… The evidence: –How does land use affect physical activity rates? –What are current land use patterns like? Examples of state policies that support healthy, active lifestyles First steps for state leaders

3. Explaining the Obesity Epidemic Our choices and modern conveniences affect activity levels Photos from Microsoft Office Clip Art and Media Gallery (http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?lc=en-us)

4. Explaining the Obesity Epidemic Community design affects activity levels Photos courtesy of Active Living by Design’s “Land Use and Public Health” presentation (http://www.activelivingbydesign.org/) and the Pedestrian & Bicycling Information Center (http://www.pedbikeimages.org/index.cfm)

5. Explaining the Obesity Epidemic Community design affects activity levels Image courtesy of Will Flessig Director of Planning and Design, Continuum Partners (http://www.continuumpartners.com/)

6. Explaining the Obesity Epidemic Community design affects activity levels Image courtesy of Will Flessig Director of Planning and Design, Continuum Partners (http://www.continuumpartners.com/)

7. Explaining the Obesity Epidemic Community design affects activity levels Image courtesy of Will Flessig Director of Planning and Design, Continuum Partners (http://www.continuumpartners.com/)

8. Explaining the Obesity Epidemic Community design affects activity levels Image courtesy of Will Flessig Director of Planning and Design, Continuum Partners (http://www.continuumpartners.com/)

9. Explaining the Obesity Epidemic Community design affects activity levels Image courtesy of Will Flessig Director of Planning and Design, Continuum Partners (http://www.continuumpartners.com/)

10. Sources: Ewing and Cervero, 2001; Holtzclaw, 1994 Graph courtesy of Active Living by Design’s “Land Use and Public Health” presentation (http://www.activelivingbydesign.org/) Building the Evidence Density Affects Travel Choices

11. Building the Evidence People Walk More in Dense, Mixed-Use Communities Source: Saelens BE, Sallis JF, Frank LD. Annual Behavioral Medicine. 2003. Photos courtesy of the Pedestrian & Bicycling Information Center (http://www.pedbikeimages.org/index.cfm) Mixed-Use Neighborhood (homes, stores, offices, etc.) Single-Use Neighborhood (all residential)

12. Between 1982 and 1997: urban land density dropped by over 20% 94% of metropolitan areas became less dense vehicle miles traveled grew more than 3 times as fast as population Sources: Fulton, Pendall et al; 2001; Ewing, 1996 Graph courtesy of Active Living by Design’s “Land Use and Public Health” presentation (http://www.activelivingbydesign.org/) Building the Evidence We’re Living in Greater Sprawl

13. From 1982 to 1995: Population rose 20% The average length of commute rose 36% Total miles we drove increased 55% Time we spent in traffic increased 236% Trips made by walking declined by 42% Sources: National Personal Transportation Survey, Local Government Commission, Corless and Ohland, 2001 Graph courtesy of Active Living by Design’s “Land Use and Public Health” presentation (http://www.activelivingbydesign.org/) 20 36 55 236 - 42 Building the Evidence We’re Driving More

14. State Strategies – Designing for Activity Overview Promotional/educational campaigns Development initiatives Revitalization policies Transportation policies School policies Green space policies Funding coordination

15. State Strategies Designing for Activity Walk Smart, Virginia! Launched by Governor Mark Warner in 2003 Administered by the Virginia Departments of Health and Education www.walksmartvirginia.com 1. Promotional / Educational Campaigns

16. State Strategies Designing for Activity 2. Development Initiatives Michigan’s Cool Cities Initiative Launched by Governor Jennifer Granholm in 2003 Emphasis on walkable streets, gathering places, and numerous job opportunities www.coolcities.com

17. State Strategies Designing for Activity 3. Revitalization Policies PA’s Elm & Main Street Programs Elm St. launched by Governor Ed Rendell in 2004 The 2 programs reinvest in and rebuild a walkable mix of business and homes in historic downtown centers www.newpa.com/index.html

18. State Strategies Designing for Activity New Jersey Transit Villages Created in 1999 Gives priority funding to communities that create amenities around transit with safe ped access www.smartgrowthgateway.org/transit_help.shtml 4. Transportation Policies

19. State Strategies Designing for Activity SC School Siting Policies In 2003, law created to: 1. eliminate schools’ minimum acreage standards 2. revise building codes that made it difficult to convert commercial buildings to schools http://www.scstatehouse.net/code/t59c023.htm 5. School Policies

20. State Strategies Designing for Activity Delaware Green Infrastructure E. O. Governor Ruth Ann Minner signed Executive Order #61 in October 2004 All state agencies must preserve green space on state-owned lands www.state.de.us/governor/orders/webexecorder61.shtml 6. Green Space Policies

21. State Strategies Designing for Activity MA Office of Commonwealth Dev. Governor Mitt Romney created the office in early 2003 Coordinates funding and assistance in 4 areas: housing, environment, energy, and transportation www.mass.gov/ocd/ 7. Funding Coordination

22. State Strategies First Steps State leaders are: 1)working across agencies to develop community design strategies that support active, healthy lifestyles 2)coordinating funding and other resources to target assistance to the areas where development and growth is most desired 3)using their positions as public figures to promote physical activity

23. Active Living Leadership Providing Assistance to State and Local Leaders

24. Thank You John D. Ratliff, Esq., Assoc. AIA Director – Environment, Energy & Natural Resources National Governors Association Center for Best Practices 202-624-7740 jratliff@nga.org