The document summarizes a health impact assessment conducted for the proposed SR 50 Bus Rapid Transit project in Orlando, Florida. The assessment analyzed how the project could impact physical health, safety, quality of life, economic development and land use. It identified obesity, diabetes, asthma and traffic crashes as current health issues in the study area. The assessment found that the BRT could help address these issues by promoting transit, walking and bicycling, which in turn could increase physical activity and economic opportunities. It provided recommendations to fund the BRT and adopt complete streets policies to maximize the project's health benefits.

1. SR 50 Bus Rapid Transit
Health Impact Assessment
APA FL Conference
Hop On, Be Healthy
September 2015

2. What is a Health Impact Assessment?
 Brings together scientific data, health expertise and public input to
identify the potential health effects of proposed new laws, regulations,
projects and programs
 Can help decision-makers consider health when making decisions
 Brings recommendations on how to improve a project or a policy

3. HIA Study Area 22 mile area (from Powers Drive to Mitchell Hammock Road)
Five distinct Socio-Demographic Segments
Pine Hills Downtown Orlando
Azalea
Park
Union
Park
UCF
Oviedo

4. UCF Planning Healthy Communities
 Walk Audits
10 locations
at different times
 Corridor User Survey
151 surveys completed
 Literature Review
Over 30 peer-reviewed studies

5. SR50 HIA Process
 Collected input through:
 Steering Committee
 Stakeholder Interviews
 Community Meetings
 Online Survey / Comments
 Other Community Studies
 Peer-reviewed publications and
federal reports
 Data on population, health, and
land uses

6. To better understand the impacts of the SR 50 BRT
on the physical, social, and emotional health of
community members through improved:
 Access to Goods and Services
 Access to Jobs and Education
 Mobility through Non-Automobile Travel
 Economic Development Opportunities
SR50 HIA Goal

7. Pedestrian/Bicyclist Safety
Physical Activity
 Obesity
 Chronic Illness Rates
(Asthma, Cardiovascular Disease, & Diabetes)
Quality of Life
Level of Transit-Supportive Land Use

8. SR50 BRT + Physical Activity
Current Conditions
 Study Area Total Population 230,000
 Obesity: 25.3 %
 Diabetes: 10.1%
 Asthma: 13.7%
 Cardiovascular Disease: 7.3%
 Higher Obesity Prevalence Rate
 Hispanic and Black Communities - Pine Hills, Azalea Park and
Union Park
 $35,000-$50,000 income bracket - Orlando, UCF and Oviedo
 Keeping the obesity rate stable will save the region money

9. SR50 BRT + Physical Activity
Literature Review
Orange County residents do not get
the recommended levels of exercise
2 Times Medical Expenses of a diabetic
person compared to a non-diabetic
20 Blocks Walked per month with
transit availability
240 Blocks Walked per year with transit
availability
20 Minutes
Daily brisk walk enough to
reduce risk of early death
between 16% to 30%
50 Percent

10. SR50 BRT + Safety:
Current Conditions (2009 to 2014)
279 Pedestrian Crashes
 33 fatalities
• Concentration in Azalea Park, Union Park & UCF
 246 injuries
• Concentration in Pine Hills, Union Park & UCF
244 Bicyclist Crashes
 7 fatalities
 237 Injuries
• Concentration in UCF, Azalea Park, & Union Park

11. Transit + Safety
Literature + Examples
 ALL TRANSIT TRIPS BEGIN AND END BY WALKING AND/OR BIKING
 Charlotte, NC - $ 50 Million Program invested in bike/ped infrastructure prior to light rail
being funded
• Enhance connectivity to transit stops
• 5.5 miles of street enhancement
• 9 miles of pedestrian and bicycle access
• Research has demonstrated that riding transit is by far the safest mode of travel in the
urban environment.
• 6 Signature intersections
• 16 miles of new sidewalk
• 12 Enhanced intersection projects

12. Transit + Safety:
Value of Pedestrian + Bicyclist
Crashes
 Fatalities: $349.6 million
 Injuries: $754.7 million
o Incapacitating $551 million
o Moderate $203.7 million
 In 2014, the Study Area saw 100 bicycle and
pedestrian crashes
$9.2 million
Value of 1 Statistical Life
$1.1 billion
Value of SR 50 Study Area Statistical Lives
$44.7 million
Statistical Value of preventing 1/3 of fatalities &
injuries through safety improvements
 Based on reduction of fatalities and injuries
 Provide discounted rate for injuries

13.  The diversity of the SR 50 corridor requires transit options that will
improve quality of life for both existing transit riders and potential riders
SR50 BRT + Quality of Life
Survey Results
Broader Community Surveys
 93% Have a car
 10% Take the bus daily or weekly
 85% Drive themselves to the grocery
store
 26% Important to live near bus stop
 63% Get around by bus
 61% Take the bus or someone else drives
them to grocery store
 45% are at least sometimes late to work
because of transportation problems
 77% Important to live near bus stop
Station Area Surveys

14. Additional 4-yrs of education lowers mortality, risk of
heart disease, & risk of diabetes
Central Florida residents identified traffic as an
important factor that impacted their quality of life
More jobs produced when transit is implemented in
communities with high unemployment
Why this matters for health?
When people have quality jobs that provide a living wage they tend to live longer and have
better physical and mental health.
1 in 6
2.5 Times
4 Years
SR50 BRT + Quality of Life
Literature Review

15. • The majority of the corridor currently is low-
density commercial/office and residential uses
• In the short-term, these areas are unlikely to
be redeveloped in a large scale
• A concentration of underutilized parcels
adjacent to the SR50 between Semoran
Boulevard and SR 417
• Block sizes along the corridor are larger than
the standard block
SR50 BRT + Transit
Supportive Land Use
Current Conditions

16. • BRT leverages equal or more transit-oriented development than LRT or streetcars per
dollar of investment
• Cleveland HealthLine BRT has catalyzed $5.8 billion in development
• Boston Silver Line has seen its tax base grow by 250%, compared to 150% citywide
• SunRail has leveraged $3.8 billion in private development
Why this matters for health?
Promoting sustainable land use development that enable physical activity and access to goods
and services can lead to decreases In obesity, heart disease, asthma and other preventable
illnesses.
SR50 BRT + Transit
Supportive Land Use
Literature Review
SEND TO CARLEEN

17. Orlando, FL
Portland, OR
• Very large blocks;
• Mostly
single use
Downtown Block
Dimensions
450’
265’
200’
200’
SR 50/SR 434 – Ex. Conditions (Block Size)

18. Parking drive aisles
acting as “streets” to
allow alternative
routes
SR 50/SR 434 – Ex. Conditions (Land Use)
SR434/AlafayaTr
Orpington St

19. Parcels that are
under-utilized & could
serve as “catalyst
redevelopment
opportunities”
SR 50/SR 434 – Ex. Conditions (Under-Utilization)

20. • New street
connections
• More intersections
SR 50/SR 434 – Short Term Plan (Street Network)

21. Orlando, FL
Minneapolis, MN
Kansas City, MO
Typical Block
Dimensions
450’
265’
350’
350’
360’
260’
SR 50/SR 434 – Short Term Plan (Block Size)
• Utilize new open
space areas to
design new
development blocks

22. Focus on Infill
Redevelopment
That continues and
capitalizes on
connectivity,
walkability, creating a
mix of uses, and
creating a connected
open space network.
Mixed-use blocks (including
commercial, office, residential in the same
footprint)
Stepping up residential uses
to buffer existing
neighborhoods
Improved street network
connectivity
SR 50/SR 434 – Long Term Plan
Open space, stormwater,
and park System

23. SR 50 & Pine Hills Rd – Chinatown: Today

24. What if we Invest in the Health of the Community?

25. SR50 H.I.A. Primary Recommendations
GOVERNING BODIES TO FUND CAPITAL AND OPERATING
EXPENSES OF THE SR 50 BUS RAPID TRANSIT
Public transportation is a critical component to the region’s transportation system and is essential to the
economic and social quality of life of our citizens.
GOVERNING BODIES TO INCORPORATE COMPLETE STREETS
POLICIES ALONG THE SR 50 CORRIDOR
Complete Streets policies focuses on the safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and
transit riders of all ages and abilities.

26. Increase Non-Auto Travel
 Maintain quality transit level of service
 Improve bike/pedestrian infrastructure around station
areas to connect to major destinations/origins
Access to Goods & Services
 Promote the development of community hubs and
health-oriented events within TOD areas
 Make transit-related materials available at corridor
businesses
Jobs & Education
• Market to and educate users on BRT and supporting
feeder bus
• Encourage Florida State Legislature to allow "colleges"
to provide transit subsidies for students
Increase Economic Development
 Consider regulatory changes and strategies to
incentivize developers to consider TOD patterns
 Consider special districts or organizations to support
TOD
SR50 H.I.A. Secondary Recommendations
The full list of recommendations is available in the report

27. SR 50 Alternative Analysis
• Congestion and space
constraints can lead to creative
approaches to premium transit
• High transit dependent
population (50%)
• BRT light can provide improved
transit service for existing and
new riders and is a cost-effective
solution
SR 50 Health Impact Assessment
• Great way to introduce health
planning into other planning
processes
• Provides a baseline for future
assessments
• Gain a better understanding of
your residents
• Literature review helps tell the
story
Key Takeaways

28. For More Information
SR50 Health Impact Assessment
Gaby Arismendi
MetroPlan Orlando
315 E. Robinson Street
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 407-481-5672
garismendi@metroplanorlando.com
http://bit.ly/SR50HIA