1. TRANSFORMING TRANSPORTATION AND HEALTH
Brownsville, Texas

2. Presenters
•Ramiro Gonzalez- Comprehensive Planning and Redevelopment Manager
•Art Rodriguez- Health Director
•Eva Garcia- Planner and Bike Advocate

3. •Introduction
•The Problem
•Drive for Transformation
•Changing the Conversation
•Planning
•Putting Words into Action

4. Where is Brownsville?
On the US/Mexico Border
Southernmost point in the Continental United States
277 Miles from San Antonio

6. Population
93% Hispanic
175,210
Total population (2013)
29
Median age
MALE
FEMALE
55%
45%

7. Population Pyramid

8. Climate
74.6°F
Average annual temperature

9. The Problem

10. 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

11. Texas Diabetes Rates: 2010
Source: The Texas Tribune

12. Texas Diabetes Rates: 2010
Source: The Texas Tribune

13. Texas Diabetes Rates: 2020
Source: The Texas Tribune

14. Texas Diabetes Rates: 2030
Source: The Texas Tribune

15. Texas Diabetes Rates: 2040
Source: The Texas Tribune

16. 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%.

17. 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%.

18. 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%.

19. Drive for Transformation

20. 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

21. 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

22. •“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

23. CAB Programs
•Tu Salud Si Cuenta
•Brownsville Farmers Market/Brownsville Wellness Coalition
•Brownsville Community Gardens
•Biggest Loser Challenge

28. Changing the Conversation

29. Gil Peñalosa (8-80 Cities)

31. TEDxBrownsville

39. Dan Burden (Walkable & Livable Communities)

41. Public Art

48. Planning

49. 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

50. 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 errandsFor exercise/recreationBothI do not currently walk or ride a bikeWhy do you walk or bicycle?

51. 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

52. EXISTING PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE NETWORK

53. PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE NETWORK
– WITH TRAILS

54. PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE NETWORK
– WITH SIDEPATHS

55. PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE NETWORK – WITH BIKE LANES

56. WITH SHARED LANE MARKINGS
PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE NETWORK
– WITH SHARED LANE MARKINGS

57. ULTIMATE PROXIMITY TO TRAILS AND SIDEPATHS

58. Southmost Nature Trail
Porter High School
Walmart

59. 1 – Southmost Area Trail along Drainage
BEFORE
AFTER

60. 6th Street Continuation from Battlefield Trail into Downtown - Cycle track

61. 3 – Downtown Pedestrian Corridors

62. Connecting Communities

66. Putting Words into Action

67. Build A Better Block

69. Planning In Real Time

118. BIKE RODEOS

119. Bike Rack Design Contest

120. Best Representative of Brownsville

121. People’s Choice (250 Votes)

122. Best in Show

123. Policy Changes
•COMPLETE STREETS
•NACTO
•Sidewalk Ordinance
•Bike Parking
•Safe Passing Ordinance
•Smoking Ban
•Plastic Bag Ban (First City in Texas)

124. RESULTS

125. •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