If an additional 1 percent of Arlington adults started getting the CDC-recommended levels of physical activity by walking or biking for their daily commute, the annual cost savings would be $7.5 million in the first year due to reduced mortality and $12 million per year due to reductions in lost productivity, workers’ compensation claims, and medical costs of injuries.
These health benefits total what is essentially a 200 percent return on investment for Arlington County’s $10.5 million annual investment in its “mobility management programs” under Arlington County Commuter Services that work to promote and provide information to residents and visitors about the excellent local and regional transportation options.
Health benefits of additional physical activity gained by switching to a 15-minute commute by bike or foot were calculated using two tools: the Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) and the Physical Inactivity Cost Calculator (PICC).
These results (PDF) were presented last month at the Second Annual National Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Meeting.
HIAs can help policymakers foresee how different options will affect public health and to take health consequences into account when choosing which programs and policies to support and fund. Tools such as the HEAT and the PICC can be useful in conducting HIAs.
Arlington’s mobility management programs yield remarkable results in moving people more efficiently by making better use of the multimodal transportation options available here. They even help people make a more environmentally friendly choice by encouraging use of public transit, biking, and walking. And benefits of the programs in terms of transportation efficiency and reduced emissions into the environment have been calculated for many years.
Now, it is very exciting to be able to start calculating benefits of the programs in terms of public health and safety.
For more about how Arlington County is doing this, please see the Transportation Cost-Savings Calculator.
Photo by Arlington County