Transportation’s Role in Livable Communities

Jana Lynott, AICPSenior Policy Advisor

AARP Public Policy Institute

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)

Provide & promote civic engagement and a sense of place through

Safe, sustainable choices for a variety of elements that include◦housing, ◦transportation, ◦Education,◦cultural diversity and ◦enrichment and ◦recreation.

Definitions of Livable Communities

Provide affordable, appropriate, accessible housing Ensure accessible, affordable, reliable, safe

transportation Adjust the physical environment for inclusiveness

and accessibility Provide work, volunteer, and education

opportunities Ensure access to key health and support services Encourage participation in civic, cultural, social,

and recreational activities

Definitions of Livable Communities

National Council on Disability

SafeAffordable and appropriate housing, Supportive community features and

services, Adequate mobility options, Which together facilitate personal

independence and the engagement of residents in civic and social life.

AARP

Definitions of Livable Communities

Mobility:Americans 50+ are able to sustain mobility as they age

Livable Communities

Photo by Jana Lynott

Photo by Jana Lynott

Housing:Americans 50+ have appropriate and affordable housing options

Our population is growing … and growing older

Year 65+ PopulationTotal

Population

65+ Share of Total

Population

2000 34,992,000 281,421,906 12%

2010 40,229,000 310,233,000 13%

2030 72,092,000 373,504,000 19%

2050 88,547,000 439,010,000 20%

Source: U.S Census Bureau - Census projections as of 8/2008

“What I’d really like to do is remain in my local community for as long as possible.”

Source: AARP State of 50+ America Survey, October 2005

Age category: 50+

Base=910

8

Some Indicators of Concern

Older population increasingly resides in suburban areas not well served by public transportation and where the auto is king

More than 1 in 5 Americans age 65 and older do not drive. Of these non-drivers, more than 50% (or 3.6 million Americans) stay home on a given day, partially because they lack transportation options

Transit use among older adults has been declining for decades

In 2008, more than 800 pedestrians age 65+ were hit and killed by motor vehicles, another 7,000 injured. Older adults are disproportionately represented in fatal accidents involving pedestrians

Percent of 50+ respondents rating community feature “D” or “F”

38%

35%

31%

20%

13%

Dependable public transportation

Walking or bike trails within half-mile of home

Sidewalks going to where you want to go

Transportation alternatives for people withdisabilities or health problems

Well-designed and maintained streets

Source: AARP State of 50+ America Survey, October 2005

What older adults wantDependable service

Comfortable and safe vehicles, stops, and stations

Convenient hours/days of service

◦ Flexibility that comes with frequency

Accessible information

Friendly drivers

Proximity (door-to-door service)

Discounts when needed

Transportation Options to Sustain Aging

Fixed-route public transportation

Specialized transportation

Complete Streets

Fixed-route public transportationMid-day and evening

serviceTravel trainingLow floor busesBus shelters,

benches, and lightingWidely available

service information with large fonts

Route planning that addresses older adults needs

Specialized TransportationNon-emergency

medical transportation

“Senior Ride”Volunteer

transportation services

Rideshare programs

Taxi serviceRural

TransportationMobility

management

Policy Options to Improve Specialized TransportationIncrease fundingStrengthen coordinated

planningSupport mobility

managementCollect and analyze

smarter dataExpand program

flexibilityStudy consolidation

Complete Streets

A Complete Street is safe, comfortable & convenient for travel by automobile, foot, bicycle, & transit regardless of age or ability

AARP Bulletin

National Complete Streets Coalition

17

US EPA Aging Initiative

18

Durham, NC

US EPA Aging Initiative

National Complete Streets Coalition

CS changes transit

A more effective use of funds

A single year of ADA paratransit service for a daily commuter:

$38,500

Permanent improvements to make a transit stop accessible: $7,000 - $58,000

National Complete Streets Coalition

Poll of older adultsEvaluation of

complete streets policies

Survey of planners and engineers

Expert roundtable and recommendations for update of FHWA Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians

Federal Complete Streets Bills

Directs States and MPOs to adopt Complete Streets policies for federally-funded projects within two years

S 584 – Sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)◦11 cosponsors

HR 1443 – Sponsored by Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA)◦ 54 cosponsors

AARP in the States

AARP Public Policy Institute

Informs and stimulates public debate on the issues we face as we age.

Provides objective research and analysis

Promotes the development of sound, creative policies to address our common need for economic security, health care, and quality of life.

www.aarp.org/ppi

Jana Lynott, 202-434-3893, jlynott@aarp.org

Transit can grow its market share

Mode Share by Age

Age 18-49 Age 50-64 Age 65+

Auto 84% 85% 87%

Transit 3% 2% 2%

Walk 11% 10% 9%

Around 20% of adults 65+ report using public transportation at least occasionally

Older Adults Report Inhospitable Roads• 40% say they do not have adequate sidewalks in their neighborhoods

• 47% say they cannot cross their main roads safely

• 54% of those living in inhospitable neighborhoods said they would walk and ride more often if conditions improved

• The majority support adoption of Complete Streets policies, with 56% expressing strong support

International Communications Research Poll for AARP, 1,000 adults age 50+, July 2008

Our Communities are Unprepared

• 2/3 of planners and engineers have not yet begun considering the needs of older users in the multi-modal planning (AARP Public Policy Institute/ITE online survey of more than 1K planners & engineers, 2008).

• Less than 1/3 of the 80 Complete Streets policies explicitly address the needs of older road users (AARP Public Policy Institute, 2009).

The addition of bike lanes and parallel parking makes it easier for older drivers to turn.

Source: “Planning Complete Streets for an Aging America,” AARP Public Policy Institute, 2009