Stroope Jessica, Jones Marisa, Nunes Brian, Holston Denise
School of Nutrition & Food Science, Louisiana State University AgCenter, U.S.A.
Safe Routes Partnership, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
J Healthy Eat Act Living. 2024 Dec 1;4(3):189-195. eCollection 2024.
Rural small towns with small main streets and compact downtown development can be ideal locations to create walkable communities. The Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention (CDC)'s High Obesity Program (HOP) funds Cooperative Extension programs to implement strategies to improve food access and support active transportation in high obesity (often rural) counties. The Louisiana State University (LSU) AgCenter HOP program had previously partnered with rural low-income communities to create Complete Streets plans but was challenged to find ways to implement those plans. A technical assistance webinar through the CDC provided by Safe Routes Partnership made the LSU AgCenter HOP team aware of new flexibility in the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), a primary source for federal formula funding for bike and pedestrian infrastructure. Through ongoing engagement with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, the local cost responsibility for the TAP for towns under 5,000 decreased from a previous approximate 40% cost burden to 5%, making TAP an accessible program for many rural communities. This paper describes how public health partnerships can improve access to active transportation funding. Although each state follows federal guidelines for the TAP program, there is substantial variation in state processes and local match requirements, which creates an opportunity for public health professionals to engage with state department of transportations to improve equity in TAP.
拥有狭窄主街道和紧凑市中心发展格局的农村小镇可能是打造适宜步行社区的理想之地。美国疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）的高肥胖率项目（HOP）为合作推广项目提供资金，以实施相关策略，改善高肥胖率（通常为农村）县的食品获取情况并支持积极的交通方式。路易斯安那州立大学（LSU）农业中心的HOP项目此前曾与农村低收入社区合作制定完整街道计划，但在寻找实施这些计划的方法时面临挑战。由安全街道伙伴关系组织提供的、通过CDC举办的一次技术援助网络研讨会，让LSU农业中心HOP团队了解到交通替代方案项目（TAP）中的新灵活性，该项目是联邦为自行车和行人基础设施提供公式资金的主要来源。通过与路易斯安那州交通运输与发展部持续接触，人口在5000以下城镇的TAP项目的地方成本责任从前约40%的成本负担降至5%，这使得TAP项目对许多农村社区来说触手可及。本文描述了公共卫生伙伴关系如何能够改善积极交通方式资金的获取情况。尽管每个州都遵循TAP项目的联邦指导方针，但各州的流程和地方配套要求存在很大差异，这为公共卫生专业人员与州交通运输部门合作以提高TAP项目中的公平性创造了机会。
