2304 - Move Utah - Planning for Active, Healthy, and Connected Communities

Abstract

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has developed the Move Utah program to better work with communities to improve active transportation throughout the state. The Move Utah program is dedicated to providing local governments and municipalities across Utah with technical support and guidance as they pursue their active transportation planning efforts. Our team, along with our partners from the Utah Department of Health (UDOH), the Utah Department of Public Safety, Bike Utah, and the Utah Highway Patrol provides technical expertise, resources and funding opportunities to help communities advance through our Move Utah Community designation process, and to help them develop activities and events that build a solid foundation of community support for active transportation. To provide a better overview of the Move Utah Program, the mission, initiatives, and goals are outlined below: MOVE UTAH MISSION Engaging Utah communities to improve active transportation planning and implementation. MOVE UTAH INITIATIVES Emphasize integrated transportation planning Identify benefits of health and activity Improve quality of life for communities Enhance law enforcement through education Encourage respect between roadway users MOVE UTAH GOALS Help communities identify their benefits of active transportation Guide communities to develop an Active Transportation Plan Encourage partner development and coordination Plan for and/or join community outreach events Assist in building personalized education and safety initiatives The team is currently working with communities throughout the state to achieve a designation status that creates more active, healthy, and connected communities. Move Utah community designation levels (Activate, Ascend and Peak) outlined through the program encourage communities to create walking and biking initiatives that are context-sensitive solutions to a community's needs and desires when it comes to active transportation. Each level has general requirements to meet in order to become a Move Utah Community. The requirements are meant to be flexible enough to fit the context and meet the needs of each individual community. The UDOH is supporting the program through the Utah Comprehensive Cancer Program by providing funding to help communities reach a designation status. The UDOH and UDOT aim to reach multiple communities with diverse contexts and ensure a statewide effort is in place. The creative and interactive presentation will focus on the experiences of working with partners, identifying the champions and outlining the efforts to reach the diverse communities. The obstacles as well as the successes will be delivered to learn from this broad outreach program.