Summary
The Healthy Cities, Healthy Residents (HCHR) program is funded by the County of San Diego’s CalFresh Healthy Living program, which is the SNAP-Ed program in California. In Vista, California, the HCHR program implemented through a contract with Vista Community Clinic (VCC), worked with Alta Planning +Design, which serves as the technical assistance provider, to engage community partners in the development of an Active Transportation Plan (ATP) for the Townsite neighborhood. ATPs are a collection of policies, programs, recommendations, and funding mechanisms that can help increase active transportation* and physical activity. The city accepted the plan and will use it as reference for other community-driven projects.
Challenges
One in four Vista residents rely on public & active transportation, such as walking and biking. The Townsite neighborhood within the City of Vista houses a large Spanish-speaking and immigrant community with limited resources. Neighborhood roads connect residents to public schools, grocery stores, community clinics, parks, and public transportation; however, active transportation challenges include:
- Poor lighting
- Improper traffic signage
- Inadequate sidewalks and crosswalks
Solutions
Poder Popular is a community advocacy group of residents supported by VCC Vista. In October 2020, VCC Vista and Alta Planning +Design staff recruited and trained additional residents, business owners, city officials, and other stakeholders to join Poder Popular and form the HCHR Vista Coalition. The County’s CalFresh Healthy Living team and the HCHR contractor provided guidance and capacity building in active transportation policy and methodology to identify policy changes that would fulfill stakeholder needs.
After building partnerships and support, engaging community members, and reviewing data, including pedestrian/bicycle-involved collisions, the HCHR Vista Coalition developed an ATP for the Townsite neighborhood.
Engaging the community was a top priority throughout Townsite’s ATP planning process. Members of Poder Popular were a crucial part of the HCHR Coalition as they identified many challenges to walking and biking in Townsite.
Engagement also included extensive coordination with partner agencies and various city departments to ensure the ATP:
- Met community needs
- Advanced initiatives of local and regional partners
- Included projects and programs that could realistically be implemented
Sustaining Success
The completion of the Townsite ATP in August of 2022 was the three-year culmination of these efforts. Following completion, the HCHR Vista Coalition shifted to advocate for the Vista City Council to fully adopt the plan. After a few meetings, city staff accepted the Townsite plan and agreed to use the document as a reference when identifying and applying for community-driven projects.
The city recently received additional funding to complete the Townsite Complete Streets Project, which will transform the neighborhood by constructing four roundabouts and adding curb extensions, crosswalks, and sidewalks. This project will also update ramps for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and construct ADA-compliant driveways that will improve pedestrian access, mobility, and safety.
*Active Transportation includes walking, biking, roller-skating/roller-blading, and other forms of human-powered, active travel.
CalFresh Healthy Living is the SNAP-Ed program in California.
CalFresh Healthy Living, California Department of Public Health
npab@cdph.ca.gov
Hugo Salgado
County of San Diego CalFresh Healthy Living
For more information, visit County of San Diego CalFresh Healthy Living