Approach to Supporting Black Communities in Planning and Developing Pedestrian and Active Transportation Infrastructure to Improve the Built Environment.

Abstract

The Live Well Allegheny-Lifting Wellness for African Americans (LWA2) Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Initiative was created to address racial health disparities in chronic disease, as well as structural determinants and systems of oppression at their root, among the Black community in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (PA). LWA²-REACH implemented active transportation projects focused on predominantly Black neighborhoods. In doing so, LWA²-REACH enabled-for Allegheny County-a first-of-its-kind connection between two county departments-economic development and the health department-and Black priority communities in the Monongahela River Valley and the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA. During years four and five of the initiative, two miles of road for bicycle use and three miles of road for pedestrian use were improved through traffic calming, safety techniques, and sidewalk replacement. The evolution of the relationships between LWA²-REACH communities and Allegheny County Economic Development generated an iterative, reciprocal awareness of community residents regarding the benefits of active transportation planning processes for their communities, and of municipalities regarding the interest of REACH community residents in engaging in active transportation planning processes. This work is a model for how to apply multi-sector, resident-engaged chronic disease prevention initiatives in predominantly Black communities as part of a comprehensive strategy to increase racial health equity by reducing racial health disparities.