What Happened?
Fort Worth has launched its Blue Zones project as part of a statewide effort to improve the health and quality of life for residents. Among the many initiatives included in the project is a greater emphasis placed on sidewalks to support pedestrian and cyclist safety and mobility.
The Goal
Because healthier residents typically have lower overall healthcare costs, making Fort Worth a better and more productive place to live has economic benefits as well. The project brings together individuals and organizations from the public and private sector to establish measureable goals for improvements in well-being based on successful practices in other cities. The health initiative is looking to:
- Improve the city’s well-being based on the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index
- Reduce medical costs and increase productivity over the next five years
- Lower the obesity rate
- Reduce smoking rates
- Increase vegetable consumption
- Boost daily physical activity
- Become a state and national leader in preventative health
- Generate high levels of media awareness at the local and national level
To achieve these goals, Fort Worth wants to change the environment of the city so healthier choices will be easier to access. For example, if the city is able to make its neighborhoods more walker-friendly, physical activity levels will rise and quality of life will also improve.
Fort Worth officials have identified regions of the city in need of sidewalks to increase foot traffic to local businesses, as well as offer alternate routes of mobility. Not only will sidewalks make it easier for pedestrians to navigate Fort Worth, but additional bike lanes are expected to increase bicycle use and reduce vehicle traffic.
Project Breakdown
The project has been set to span five years, allowing enough time for developments to be completed while enabling initiatives to be evaluated and adjusted to improve outcomes and efficiency. In the five years, the project will roll out in phases:
- Recruit and train local leaders to map out strategies
- Implement Blue Zone project plans for 26 to 28 months
- Prepare a sustainability plan for each project
- Update the project blueprints annually to incorporate changes or best practices learned
By applying stringent metrics to each initiative, Fort Worth will be able to measure the efficacy of the projects throughout the stages to completion. These metrics will gauge performance of processes as well as outcomes. The real-time data can be used to improve projects in-progress as well as identify trends to guide future strategies.
Elsewhere in Texas
In Dallas, the walkability factor of the city is also under review. Understanding that a more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly city has improved health, quality of life and safety for residents, officials have made changes to various parts of Dallas.
The five-acre Klyde Warren Park was completed in 2012, built on a platform over a freeway. The park now provides are more enjoyable path between two urban centers in Dallas, while increasing access to green space and shade.
Walking To and Fro
Gov1 has noted a rising trend in projects focused on a city’s walkability, which focuses on the safety and mobility of both pedestrians and cyclists.