Although chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes often come to mind when thinking about the built environment and health disparities, traffic injuries and fatalities are another major public health issue at the intersection of planning and public health. In fact, a study in the Journal of Urbanism noted that "road fatalities erase more healthy years of life than cancer and heart disease combined." The study also stated that "Americans are not bearing these impacts equitably." The authors found significant racial and ethnic disparties in road fatalities, particularly for pedestrians and bicyclists in predominantly black or Hispanic neighborhoods. Although this study looked at national data, these disparities can be seen within our region and our communities.
This joint Healthy Communities Task Force and Regional Safety Task Force meeting will explore the relationship between traffic safety, equity, and health. Marco Gorini, a Transportation Planner with DVRPC, will present on Crashes and Communities of Concern, a soon-to-be-released report that examines the connections between areas with high crash rates and areas with greater concentrations of low-income and minority populations.
The meeting will also include a panel of local practitioners and researchers working to reduce traffic fatalities and increase safe and healthy mobility options for all. Confirmed panelists include:
- Michael Carroll, P.E., Deputy Managing Director for Transportation & Infrastructure, City of Philadelphia
- Jana Hirsch, MES, PhD, Assistant Research Professor, Urban Health Collaborative, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
- Angela Kim, M.D., Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellow, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children
Erwin Figueroa, Senior Organizer, Transportation Alternatives
The panel will be moderated by Charles Brown, Senior Research Specialist, Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, Rutgers University.
Please join us to learn more and discuss what planning, public health, and transportation professionals can do to support safer streets and healthier communities.
- 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM: Networking/Registration/Coffee
- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Presentations
- 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Panel Discussion
- 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Breakout Sessions
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Networking lunch
1.5 AICP CM Credits Available
Sources: Wesley E. Marshall & Nicholas N. Ferenchak (2017) Assessing equity and urban/rural road safety disparities in the US, Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability, 10:4, 422-441, DOI: 10.1080/17549175.2017.1310748