Leo F. Estrada, PhD
UCLA School of Public Affairs
Board Member, AARP
AARP Public Policy Institute
January 27, 2009
Transportation for an Aging America
2203 Rayburn House Office Building
June 8, 2009
Livable Communities
A livable community is one that has
affordable and appropriate housing,
supportive community features and
services, adequate mobility options,
which together facilitate personal
independence and the engagement of
residents in civic and social life.
AARP’s Livable Communities
Goal for Mobility
Americans 50+ are able to sustain
mobility as they age
More communities increase affordable and
accessible mobility and housing options and
community services to meet the needs of the 50+
population through engagement and influence of local
level decision makers
Mobility Matters
• Transportation connects individuals with
economic, social, cultural and civic
activities
• Essential to maintain independence,
freedom and emotional well-being
Source: Getting Current: Recent Demographic Trends in Metropolitan America,
Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institute, 2009.
AARP, Across the States 2009: Profiles of
Long-Term Care and Independent Living
Health Status
•Health and disability status is stronger predictor of mobility
than age.
• Those 85+ in excellent physical condition are more
mobile than younger persons in poor condition.
Chronic conditions tend to rise with age.
 Over half of persons age 75+ have 2 – 4 chronic
conditions
 Over one-fifth of persons age 75+ have 5 or more
chronic conditions
Poverty
Characteristics
• In 2007, 6 million persons 65+ (16.1%) were in poverty or
“near poor.”
• In poverty:
•
•
•
•
White
African American
Asians
Hispanics
7.4%
23.2%
11.3%
17.1%
• Women
12.0%
• Men
6.6%
Growth in Minority Elderly
• From 5.7 million in 2000 to 12.9 million in
2020
• Increase between 2007 and 2030:
– White
– Hispanic
– African-American
– American Indian
– Asian
68%
244%
126%
167%
213%
Older Women Likely to Live Alone
As They Age
• 55% of non-institutionalized older persons
lived with their spouse.
• Nearly 39% of women 65+ live alone
• 19% of men 65+ live alone
• Half of women 75+ live alone
Geographic Location
19.50%
36.70%
Cities
Suburbs (outside
principal cities)
Nonmetro
63.30%
Source: Administration on Aging “A Profile of Older Americans: 2008”
Suburban America
• America is largely suburbanized
• Evolved around trolley, rail and highway access
• Housing tracts were once mini-communities but
eventually bedroom communities (housing
without services)
• Dispersed housing (sprawl) led to the cardependence
• What happens when you get older in a car
dependent culture?
Growth of First Suburbs
• Home to nearly 20% of US population
• Older population increased nearly twice as
fast in first suburbs as the nation as a
whole from 1950 – 2000
• “Non-families,” including the elderly living
alone, are most prevalent household type
• Highest % of elderly in Rust Belt
• Highest # of elderly in NY, Boston,
Chicago and LA metro areas
Source: One-Fifth of America,
Brookings, 2006
Rural Challenges
• Persons age 60 and older account for nearly
one-third of rural riders— far more than their
19% share of the rural population.
• Nearly 75% of households in rural areas do not
have access to public transportation.
• Medical trips are a particular need.
Stranded Without Options
• More than one in five (21%)
Americans age 65 and older do
not drive (6.8 million).
• More than 50% of non-drivers
age 65 and older - or 3.6 million
Americans – stay home on any
given day.
• Non-drivers take 15% fewer
trips to the doctor than drivers.
• Where public transportation is
available, older Americans
make regular use of it.
Key Issues for Older Drivers
•
•
•
•
Declining vision
Decreased physical fitness and flexibility
Decreased ability to focus attention
Increased reaction time
17
Driving Oneself Declines with Age
90% of trips by older persons are in personal
automobiles.
Drive Themselves:
Age 50 – 74
Age 75+
73%
62%
Passenger:
Age 50 – 74
Age 75+
17%
27%
Source: AARP Beyond 50.05, 2005
Incomplete Streets
Photograph from Edward Stollof
20
•Older adults (65+) are
over-represented in
traffic fatalities
– 12.5% of population in
2007
– 14% of all vehicle
occupant
– 19% of pedestrian
fatalities
Pedestrians Chance of
Death if hit by a Motor Vehicle
85%
45%
5%
20 m ph
30 m ph
40 m ph
Source: NCHRP Report 500, Vol. 10:
A Guide for Reducing Collisions Involving Pedestrians, 2004.
Older adults (50+) report inhospitable roads
•47% say they cannot cross their main
roads safely
•40% say they do not have adequate
sidewalks in their neighborhoods
International Communications Research Poll for AARP, 1,000 adults age 50+,
July 2008
Percent of respondents rating community feature
“D” or “F”
Well-designed and maintained streets
Transportation alternatives for people with
disabilities or health problems
Sidewalks going to where you want to go
Walking or bike trails within half-mile of home
Dependable public transportation
13%
20%
31%
35%
38%
Source: AARP, Beyond 50.05, 2005.
Our Communities
are Unprepared
• 54%of American communities do not have the policies,
program or services in place to promote quality of life,
community engagement, and independent living of older
adults (N4A survey of 10K local governments, 2006).
• 2/3 of planners and engineers have not yet begun
considering the needs of older users in the multi-modal
planning (AARP Public Policy Institute/ITE online survey
of more than 1K planners & engineers, 2008).
Source: TCRP Report 82 “Improving Public Transit Options for Older
Persons”
Public Transportation Improvements
•
•
•
•
•
•
Increased service reliability
Accessible vehicles, stations, and stops
Accessible service information
Travel training
Driver sensitivity training
Neighborhood circulators/service routes
Specialized
Transportation
•A 2007 Promark Research poll found that 61% of Americans believe
that our transportation system needs more “Dial a Ride” or other
special forms of transportation for seniors and persons with disabilities.
– Respondents reported greater need for senior transportation than
for roads, buses, bike trails, and sidewalks.
•Among those 65+, 71% believe that the transportation system needs
more special forms of transportation for the seniors and persons with
disabilities.
Volunteer Programs
• As of 2007, there were at least 543 volunteer driver
programs.
• Benefits of volunteer driver programs
• They operate where other services are not
available or not accessible by older adults
• Generally less expensive
• Provide services beyond what traditional
transportation services provide
Family of Travel Choices Are
Needed
- Walking and Bicycling
– Public Transportation
– Paratransit
– Human Services / Specialized Services
– Non-emergency Medical Transportation
– Volunteer Driver Programs
− Safe Roads
Complete Streets
AARP Bulletin
•A Complete Street is safe,
comfortable & convenient for travel by
automobile, foot, bicycle, & transit
regardless of age or ability
AARP Complete Streets Report
Recommendations for FHWA Handbook
Update FHWA Handbook to:
• Provide greater focus on pedestrians
• Consider the effects of vehicle speed
• Acknowledge evolving state of the practice
• Address different land use contexts
AARP urges Congress to Include in Transportation Authorization :
• Complete Streets Act of 2009
• Legislation that helps states implement recommendations of the
Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians and
provides for updates to these recommendations
• Strengthened and expanded specialized transportation program for
older adults and persons with disabilities.
AARP Bulletin
34
Staff Contact:
Debra Alvarez
Government Relations
(202) 434-3814