Metroplan Study Links Region’s ‘Walkability’ with Health, Economic Development

A new Metroplan study released Tuesday makes a strong case that the region’s decreasing number of walkers and bikers that commute has a direct link as to why Central Arkansans are unhealthier and more obese than most other parts of the nation.

The sobering “Metro Trends 2014 Demographic Review and Outlook” study also reports that the “walkability” of the region could play a major role in the economic growth of local Arkansas communities in the future.

“It’s a dollar and cents issue,” said Jim McKinsey, executive director of Metroplan, the voluntary planning organization for the four-county region of Faulkner, Lonoke, Pulaski and Saline counties. The regional planning group, whose board is composed of mayors and policymakers across the region, serves more than 25 local communities in Central Arkansas.

McKinsey said Metroplan staff will make recommendations to the board and regional planners and policymakers to strongly consider issues such as zoning, mixed-use and multi-family developments and “open street” transportation construction projects in future planning of local communities.

McKinsey added that as a long-time planner, he has seen a direct correlation between how well local communities are developed and the impact on real estate values.

“We need to just stop and think how we build our communities in the future,” McKinsey said. “We need to make a conscious decision not to build our communities for the automobile, but for people. We use to walk to school, the grocery store and the neighborhood pharmacy, but we hardly see that anymore.”

Metroplan research planner Jonathan Lupton also points out that the report explores the possibility of a “more walkable” future in Central Arkansas, including the link between so-called “built environments” and people.

“The region’s economic developers need to be aware of this … and how this linkage affects personal freedom, mobility and even health,” said Lupton, who wrote the 16-page report.

Here are some of the key highlights of the 2014 Metroplan report.

• Central Arkansas has one of the lowest shares of workers biking and walking to work. Only 1.3% of commuters bike or walk to work in the Little Rock metropolitan area;
• By comparison, 2.8% of commuters in Northwest Arkansas bike or walk to work, while cities such as Portland, Ore., and New York City are 5.7% and 6.7%, respectively. The U.S. average is 3.4%;
• Central Arkansas ranks well above the U.S. average in obesity, physical activity and miles driven per capita, which supports the close link between people’s health and their environment, Metroplan officials say;
• Saline and Faulkner counties are leading population expansion in Central Arkansas with annual growth of 2% and 1.7%, respectively;
• Housing permits have seen the slowest regional performance since 1992. Single-family housing was the market’s strongest segment with Hot Springs Village and Sherwood experiencing modest growth, while the Jacksonville area saw a slight downturn.

The regional study also includes a demographic outlook for 2014 showing the employment picture for the region has lagged the national average since 2010.

“Discouraged by poor job prospects, many potential workers have apparently given up job-seeking,” the Metroplan report says. “Local demographic and employment data suggest this dilemma is as prevalent locally as at the national level.”

The annual report closes by pointing out that many cities in Central Arkansas and across the U.S. that have seen strong economic growth have “reinvented themselves” to remain viable.

“Market forces will shape much of this change, but governments must be flexible in adapting their land use regulations and transportation investments, to help investors overcome regulatory barriers to redevelopment in existing urban and suburban nodes,” the report concludes.

To view a copy of the report, go to the Metroplan website here.