[chambernews] Fwd: MnDOT, MDH respond to Surgeon General's call to action on walkability

[Karen]

FYI


-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	MnDOT, MDH respond to Surgeon General's call to action on 
walkability
Date: 	Thu, 10 Sep 2015 18:38:05 +0000
From: 	Gillach, James (DOT) <james.gillach at state.mn.us>
To: 	#DOT_ALLCOMM <ALLCOMM.DOT at state.mn.us>



Minnesota Department of Transportation

Minnesota Department of Health


  News Release

Sept. 10, 2015            Contact:

Sue Roe (Transportation)

            651-366-4268

Susan.Roe at state.mn.us <mailto:Susan.Roe at state.mn.us>

Scott Smith (Health)
651-201-5806

Scott.Smith at state.mn.us <mailto:Scott.Smith at state.mn.us>

*Minnesota is on pace with U.S. Surgeon General’s call for walkable 
communities*

/MnDOT, Department of Health step up with statewide pedestrian plan/

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota is well positioned to respond to U.S. 
Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s call Sept. 9 to promote health 
through walking and walkable communities.

Vivek’s announcement articulates the health benefits of walking while 
addressing the fact that many communities lack safe and convenient 
places for individuals to walk or wheelchair roll. The Surgeon General 
called on community planners and local leaders to create more areas for 
walking and wheelchair rolling and to prioritize the development of safe 
routes for children to get to and from schools.

Minnesota is already taking action. The Minnesota departments of 
transportation and health recently entered an interagency agreement to 
promote health and are working on the state’s first statewide pedestrian 
plan.

“The Surgeon General’s call to action about walking and walkable 
communities affirms the importance of developing an accessible walking 
environment,” said MnDOT Commissioner Charlie Zelle. “We look forward to 
creating the first pedestrian plan in the state that will identify ways 
we can make communities more safe and convenient to walk and roll.”

MnDOT and MDH are gathering input from the public to help establish the 
vision, goals and recommendations for the pedestrian system plan. The 
plan will help develop new projects, policies and programs; a draft plan 
is expected in 2016.

“Making our communities walkable is a critical health issue,” said 
Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Ed Ehlinger. “Investing in a 
pedestrian plan that brings together transportation officials, city 
planners, parks, businesses and health officials will result in safer 
environments for pedestrians and health benefits for generations to come.”

The agencies are hosting focus groups, listening sessions, community 
gatherings and online engagement activities to gather public input for 
the statewide pedestrian plan.

More information about the Minnesota project, online activities and the 
in-person engagement schedule is available at www.minnesotago.org/walks 
<http://www.minnesotago.org/walks>. For more information, contact 
Jasna.Hadzic at state.mn.us <mailto:Jasna.Hadzic at state.mn.us>or 
Amber.Dallman at state.mn.us <mailto:Amber.Dallman at state.mn.us>.

To read the Surgeon General’s Call to Action and learn how to promote 
walking and walkable communities, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov 
<http://www.surgeongeneral.gov>_._

__

The call to action suggests that these designs should include sidewalks, 
curb cuts, crosswalks, safe crossings for the visually impaired and more 
green spaces. The Surgeon General further calls on city managers, law 
enforcement and community and public health leaders to address safety 
concerns by better maintaining public spaces, working with residents to 
promote a shared sense of community ownership, ensuring proper street 
lighting and fostering neighborhood watch programs.

###

Sue Roe

Communications Office

651-366-4268

Cell: 651-503-2467

susan.roe at state.mn.us <mailto:susan.roe at state.mn.us>


Minnesota Department of Transportation

395 John Ireland Blvd.

St. Paul, MN

www.mndot.gov <http://www.mndot.gov/>

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