Abstract
CARTEEH’s SMART initiative, and the 14 Pathways research project, provide an ideal opportunity for demonstrating the benefits of green space interventions and multimodal transportation such as those contained in plans for the Dallas Southwestern Medical District (SWMD). In this work, we are initiating a research collaboration in this area which can provide a one-of-a-kind, real-world test bed and real-world context-specific data on the benefits of green spaces and multimodal transportation solutions. We will apply and potentially expand the newly developed SMART framework and toolkit to the selected case study in the Dallas Southwestern Medical District, leveraging some existing work and contacts with the City of Dallas, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), the Texas Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Texas Trees Foundation (TTF), with who the research team has already established working relations. The project has 5 goals: 1) demonstrate how selected portions of the SMART framework and toolkit can be used to assess transportation infrastructure projects, 2) establish the baseline conditions before the implementation of the SWMD projects under the Urban Streetscape Master Plan across 5 selected pathways with important health implications, 3) engage with stakeholders to achieve various outcomes, 4) document potential health outcomes of the assessed pathways to health, in baseline conditions and 5) develop a cross-cutting document with all the above information.
An air quality index (AQI) dashboard was developed for the Dallas Southwestern Medical District. Three locations were selected to measure air quality in the area: Harry Hines and Medical District Drive, Harry Hines and Record Crossing, and Inwood and UTSW. The AQI dashboard can be accessed here.
Research Investigators (PI*)
Haneen Khreis*, Texas A&M Transportation Institute
When-Wai Li, The University of Texas at El Paso
Benjamin Ettelman, Texas A&M Transportation Institute
Project Information
Start Date: 01/04/2021
End Date: 01/04/2022
Status: Active
Grant Number: 69A3551747128
Source Organization: CARTEEH UTC
Project Number: TTI-05-41
RiP URL
UTC Project Information Form
CARTEEH Focus Area(s)
Sponsor
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC 20590 United States
Performing Organization
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
1111 RELLIS Parkway
Bryan, Texas 77807