TRANSFORMING TRANSPORTATION

AND

HEALTH

Brownsville, Texas

Presenters

• Ramiro Gonzalez- Comprehensive Planning and Redevelopment Manager

• Art Rodriguez- Health Director

• Eva Garcia- Planner and Bike Advocate

• Introduction

• The Problem

• Drive for Transformation

• Changing the Conversation

• Planning

• Putting Words into Action

Where is

Brownsville?

On the US/Mexico Border Southernmost point in the Continental United States

277 Miles from San Antonio

Population

93% Hispanic

175,210 Total population

(2013)

29 Median age

MALE

FEMALE

55% 45%

Population Pyramid

Climate

74.6°F Average annual temperature

The Problem

Health Crisis

1 in 3 people are diabetic

20% higher than

the rest of

Texas

23% higher than

the national

average

either obese

or overweight

80%

More

than

40%

Poverty level

= $20,614 for a family of 4

1/3 of

Americans will

be diabetic

In 2050

Texas Diabetes Rates: 2010

Source: The Texas Tribune

Texas Diabetes Rates: 2010

Source: The Texas Tribune

Texas Diabetes Rates: 2020

Source: The Texas Tribune

Texas Diabetes Rates: 2030

Source: The Texas Tribune

Texas Diabetes Rates: 2040

Source: The Texas Tribune

Prevalence of Self-Reported Obesity Among

Hispanic Adults,

by State, BRFSS, 2011-2013

Data not reported* 15%–<20% 20%–<25% 25%–<30% 30%–<35% ≥35%

* Sample size <50 or the relative standard error (dividing the standard error by the prevalence) ≥ 30%.

Prevalence of Self-Reported Obesity Among

Non-Hispanic Black Adults,

by State, BRFSS, 2011-2013

Data not reported* 15%–<20% 20%–<25% 25%–<30% 30%–<35% ≥35%

* Sample size <50 or the relative standard error (dividing the standard error by the prevalence) ≥ 30%.

Prevalence of Self-Reported Obesity Among

Non-Hispanic White Adults,

by State, BRFSS, 2011-2013

Data not reported* 15%–<20% 20%–<25% 25%–<30% 30%–<35% ≥35%

* Sample size <50 or the relative standard error (dividing the standard error by the prevalence) ≥ 30%.

Drive for

Transformation

UT School of Public Health-Brownsville Regional Campus (2000)

• Established in 2000

• Established the Hispanic Health Research

Center

• Mission is to reduce or eliminate health

disparities that exist in Hispanics living in the

South Texas Border region and nationally

Community Advisory Board (2004) • Funded through the National Institutes of

Health (NIH) as a way to connect the community with the school

• Also funded through the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences who partners with MD Anderson, UT Health, and Memorial Hermann Hospital System

• “With soaring rates of obesity and diabetes, we urgently needed to get the word out to our community, but also needed to work on solutions based on successful evidence-based approaches along with real stories of individuals.”

Joseph McCormick, MD, PHD, SPH Dean

CAB Programs

• Tu Salud Si Cuenta

• Brownsville Farmers Market/Brownsville Wellness Coalition

• Brownsville Community Gardens

• Biggest Loser Challenge

Changing

the Conversation

Gil Peñalosa (8-80 Cities)

TEDxBrownsville

Dan Burden (Walkable & Livable Communities)

Public Art

Planning

IN BROWNSVILLE Master Bike and Bike Plan

In cities with high levels of bicycle

riding, the average bicycle trip is between two and three miles

Why do you Walk or Bicycle in Brownsville Today?

7%

63%

26%

10%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

To get to work/school/run errands

For exercise/recreation

Both

I do not currently walk or ride a bike

Why do you walk or bicycle?

Reasons not to walk or bike

(top answers shown)

- No trails/sidewalks/facilities

- Do not feel safe

- Do not own a bicycle

Biggest hurdles to walking and biking in

Brownsville (top answers shown)

- Traffic/inconsiderate drivers

- Not safe

- Not convenient/no sidewalks or trails/no

places to ride

EXISTING PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE NETWORK

PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE NETWORK – WITH TRAILS

PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE NETWORK

– WITH SIDEPATHS

PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE NETWORK –

WITH BIKE LANES

WITH SHARED LANE MARKINGS

PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE NETWORK

– WITH SHARED LANE MARKINGS

ULTIMATE PROXIMITY TO TRAILS AND SIDEPATHS

Southmost Nature Trail

Porter High School

Walmart

1 – Southmost Area Trail along

Drainage

BEFORE

AFTER

6th Street Continuation from Battlefield Trail into Downtown - Cycle track

3 – Downtown Pedestrian

Corridors

Connecting Communities

Putting

Words into

Action

Build A Better Block

Planning In Real Time

BIKE RODEOS

Bike Rack Design Contest

Best Representative of Brownsville

People’s Choice (250 Votes)

Best in Show

Policy Changes

• COMPLETE STREETS

• NACTO

• Sidewalk Ordinance

• Bike Parking

• Safe Passing Ordinance

• Smoking Ban

• Plastic Bag Ban (First City in Texas)

RESULTS

• East 6th Street Green Lane/Cycle Track: $250,000 TXDOT Grant for Sidewalk

Expansion

• Southmost Nature Trail (7 Miles CDBG/Category 7/City of Brownsville)- $4.5

million

• Resaca de la Palma Battlefield Connection (FHWA, Federal Land Access

Program, City)- $200,000

• Battlefield Trail 2.5 Mile Extension Extension through Downtown(TXDOT

Enhancement Grant)-$750,000

• Belden Trail- TPWD, CDBG, BCIC- $500,000

• Belden Trail Connect- $200,000

• Morrison Rd. Trail- $200,000

• Total Funding Acquired and Leveraged= 6.6 million