1. East Aldine Pedestrian & Bicycle
Environmental Data Scan, 2015
Narayan A,1 Caballero V,2 McNally K,2 Schwaller E,2 Yao M,1 Cummings P2
1Rice University; 2Built Environment & Health Impact Assessment Unit, Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services
Numerous studies link walking to
decreased risk of cardiovascular disease
and chronic conditions.1,5 In addition,
improving pedestrian accessibility by
creating safe, walkable environments
positively influences social
capital/community cohesiveness,3 as
well as a host of other health factors
including pedestrian safety2 and physical
activity.6
The Built Environment & Health Impact
Assessment Unit (BE-HIA) examined
existing pedestrian and bicycle
infrastructure in the East Aldine
Management District to inform
development of the new proposed Town
Center plans. The data are part of a
Health Impact Assessment (HIA) that
will be used to inform decision-makers
in East Aldine to identify ways to
improve active transportation,
connectivity, and mobility.
METHODS
The Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services (HCPHES)
Environmental Scan Tool (EST) was adapted from the Pedestrian Environmental
Data Scan (PEDS).4 The tool included questions about pedestrian infrastructure
and street characteristics that required surveyors to enter GPS coordinates of
requested street elements. BE-HIA Unit organized pairs to conduct the scan
along 749 segments within a 1-mile radius of Keith-Weiss Park and the proposed
Town Center development, combined. The segments were numbered within
each Census block group using a complex, GIS-compass-specific method (i.e.,
north to south; west to east). These block groups were then assigned to teams.
Data were collected from 7/6/2015 to 7/23/2015 between the hours of 8:00 AM
to 1:00 PM. The Unit also devised algorithms to create a score corresponding to
both pedestrian accessibility (Total Score) and accessibility to all-abled
individuals (AAA Score). Surveys were digitally recorded in an online database
created by HCPHES.
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY IMPACT
The built environment heavily
influences population and individual
health. Access to healthcare, healthy
food options, and opportunities to be
physically active are vital to chronic
disease prevention and control. BE-
HIA Unit focuses on taking a Health in
All Policies (HiAP) approach to inform
decision-makers at all levels (e.g.,
federal, regional, local), including
planning and transportation sectors to
improve health and health equity
through the development of healthy,
safe and active environments.
1Sallis, J. F., Saelens, B. E., Frank, L. D., Conway, T. L., Slymen, D. J., Cain, K. L., … Kerr,
J. (2009). Neighborhood built environment and income: Examining multiple health
outcomes. Social Science & Medicine, 68(7), 1285–1293. 2Retting, R. A., Ferguson, S. A.,
& McCartt, A. T. (2003). A Review of Evidence-Based Traffic Engineering Measures
Designed to Reduce Pedestrian–Motor Vehicle Crashes. American Journal of Public Health,
93(9), 1456–1463. 3Leyden, K. M. (2003). Social Capital and the Built Environment: The
Importance of Walkable Neighborhoods. American Journal of Public Health, 93(9), 1546–
1551.
4Clifton, K. J., Livi Smith, A. D., & Rodriguez, D. (2007). The development and testing of
an audit for the pedestrian environment. Landscape and Urban Planning, 80(1–2), 95–
110.
5 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity and Health: A Report
of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion, 1996.
6 Fenton, M. (2005). Battling America’s Epidemic of Physical Inactivity: Building More
Walkable, Livable Communities. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 37,
Supplement 2, S115–S120.
Special thanks to Michael Schaffer, Director
of Environmental Public Health for working
with PBT to develop the digital EST online
database. This project is partially supported
by the Episcopal Health Foundation and the
Health Impact Project - a joint collaborative
through Pew Charitable Trusts and Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation
• Assisted in creation of the EST
• Drafted and edited EST protocol which
included specific instructions for each
question.
• Refined EST through pilot testing
• Conducted pre-data collection
procedures, including segment algorithm
assignment to teams
• Devised AAA Score
Data are still currently being collected.
Analysis of data will include
descriptive statistics, bivariate
analyses, GIS spatial analysis, and/or
statistical modeling. The final results
of the data analysis will be
incorporated into the HIA for East
Aldine District to address the potential
health consequences of the proposed
Town Center.
The front page of the EST contains all
survey questions