Professors Take on "Complete Streets" Project

Ever heard the saying “two heads are better than one?” When it comes to the College of Social and Behavioral Science, this is not a new concept. Many professors and faculty members put their heads together to achieve a better understanding of a mutual interest. Take Barbara Brown and Carol Werner for example. Brown is an environmental and social psychologist, as well as a professor in the family and consumer studies department who has a passion for urban, sustainable design and creating people and nature friendly environments within communities. Werner is a professor in the social psychology department and a family and consumer studies adjunct professor who has done extensive research on neighborhood and university recycling. Combining Brown’s expertise in the social and physical environment, and Werner’s strengths in interventions with behavioral changes, the two of them epitomize what it’s like to reap the benefits when collaborative efforts amongst a group actually works.

Werner and Brown have been working together since 1981, and in that time, they have brought us research on a variety of topics including privacy and territorial regulation in the home, obesity, and other community interest pieces. Their interest in environment change and physical activity stemmed from the research they did for the 2002 Olympics and TRAX usage. So what is the duo’s latest endeavor concerning this particular area? An interdisciplinary collaborative project featuring two other faculty members Ken Smith and Harvey Miller called “Complete Streets.” Briefly summarizing the project’s main purpose, it hopes to get construction to create light rails, sidewalks, and bike lanes at the same time they are constructing roads in areas that are at high risk for obesity. With help from the Salt Lake City mayor, the research group received funding for this project from the Institute of Public & International Affairs, the National Institute Health (NIH) grant, the National Science Foundation (NSF) Biocomplexity grant, as well as funding from the University Research Committee Grant.

So why have the two decided to team up on this particular project? Werner puts it simply, “What Barbara (Brown) and I both work from is this idea that if you are going to try to solve a social-environmental problem, you need to create an environment that supports the new behavior. You have to provide a supportive context; a supportive physical and social environment.”

Though the project is just getting on its feet, Brown and Werner shared a few of the main components of the research. It is said to commence research during the latter part of this year and into the early months of next year. It will be comprised of 800 residents--100 residents per week that will either be required to wear a GPS tracking unit to monitor the residents’ travel patterns, or an accelerometer, a way of tracking the speed and consistency of one’s movements and fiscal activities. Werner believes that this technology will prove beneficial when looking for insight into how people use their neighborhoods. Brown and Werner also mention that like previous research, they are looking to include any help from undergraduate and graduate students from various backgrounds.

What are their hopes concerning this research? Werner states that because there is a lack of quality data for this kind of change, they hope that their research will prove beneficial when it comes to considering improvements like these in other communities. Brown expresses concern and states, “People have become all too reliant on their vehicles, and what they need to realize is the fuel to power those vehicles is a finite resource. We are trying to give people incentive to use their legs, rather than their vehicle because one day, they might not be around.”

Not only does this project have hopes for helping the environment, but it will also be beneficial in helping out communities with high obesity rates, and perhaps help prevent accidents caused by automobiles. This thought comes from the previous research that Brown and Werner did on the 900 South TRAX line. After doing a before and after of what residents hoped the line would do for their community, many of them said they were more inclined to walk to the TRAX line, and also felt that the operators of the train performed operations safer than some of their neighbors driving their own personal vehicles.

Brown and Werner believe many will benefit from this research. “Although our interest is mainly with the residents and giving them the opportunity to use alternative ways of getting around town, businesses and tourist attractions will definitely see an impact due to it,” Brown says. “For example, when TRAX finally reaches the Salt Lake International Airport, it will have bike and walking paths running alongside it. This is ideal for those who end up having layovers at the airport. They will be able to come into town and check out what the city has to offer,” says Brown.

“Complete Streets” has the interdisciplinary collaboration group to thank for its potential success. Brown and Werner attribute much of their ability to work collaboratively to Irv Almond, who was a former deanhere at the U. Both worked closely with Almond as he trained them to work effectively, rather than caustically, and learn how to come together as a group and be able to rely on one another. So when it comes to talking about their work now, Werner states it is crucial to be able to trust the group, as well as respect and communicate with them. With regards to this current research group, Werner gives high praise. “We needed a group that consisted of individuals able to contribute exponentially to the project, and although we have just started meeting, we can already see that each of us has complimentary skills that we are able bring to the table.”

Though “Complete Streets” is still in the beginning stages of development, the group’s research will be extremely beneficial for many. Creating a viable alternative in the way we develop cities, roads, and buildings is already prominent in big cities like Washington DC and Chicago, and with this research, Salt Lake City might very well be the next city to adopt these alternatives.