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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Margaret Watson, Georgia State University, 301 10th St. NE #14, Atlanta, GA 30309, 678-571-8368, watson.meg@gmail.com and Andrew Dannenberg, MD, MPH, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Mailstop F-30, Atlanta, GA 30341.

Background The 2005 Federal Transportation Act (SAFETEA-LU) provides $612 million for Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) programs, primarily to improve walking and bicycling infrastructure. Such improvements will benefit school children as well as the larger community. This study examines the potential impact of SRTS programs on communities, assuming that SRTS funds will be used to eventually improve most or all walking and bicycling routes within 1/2 mile of public schools.

Methods A Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to generate estimates of the area around U.S. schools that would most likely benefit from SRTS projects. The U.S. was divided into census-defined categories: 452 Urban Areas (defined primarily by population size and density); 1088 metropolitan counties (Metropolitan Statistical Areas excluding urban areas); and 2048 non-metropolitan counties.

Results Preliminary results show that 32% of the land in Urban Areas is within ˝ mile of a public school. Approximately 1% of land in metropolitan areas outside of the urban core and < 1% of land in non-metropolitan counties is within ˝ mile of a school. Approximately 71 million of the 192 million persons who live in these 452 Urban Areas could benefit from more walkable neighborhoods if SRTS projects were implemented at their nearby schools, assuming average population density around schools.

Discussion Results suggest that SRTS projects in urban areas can improve the walking and bicycling environment for large numbers of adults in addition to the target audience of school children. SRTS investments thus can contribute to combating the national obesity epidemic.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Recognize the potential for infrastructure improvements accomplished through the Safe Routes to School program to affect the larger community.
• Identify areas where SRTS improvements could have the largest effects.
• Discuss the differences between urban, suburban and rural communities with relation to SRTS programs’ effect on the general public.

Keywords: Geographic Information Systems, Community Benefits

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered