Dana Burghdoff understands how our built environment can support—or discourage—moving naturally.

For 20 years Dana has worked for the City of Fort Worth, most recently as the Assistant Director of Planning and Development, helping promote orderly growth and development, safe construction, and neighborhood vitality. She’s also served with many boards and organizations dedicated to improving transportation options throughout North Texas.

Studies show that just by making our communities more walkable, the prevalence of obesity can decrease by more than 10 percent. Complete Streets policies and Active Transportation Plans help communities move away from automobile-centric development to better accommodate all users and modes of transportation.

And that’s where Dana comes in. Through her role at the city, and as chair of the Blue Zones Project Built Environment Implementation Committee, Dana worked hand-in-hand with the Blue Zones Project team and numerous city entities and civic partners to help lay the groundwork for a more walkable community. The results will help Fort Worth residents live longer by making choices easier for them:

• In 2016 the City of Fort Worth adopted a Complete Streets Policy, laying the foundation for a design approach that requires streets to be planned, developed, and maintained in a way that’s safe, convenient, and accessible for all users, of all ages and abilities, regardless of their mode of transportation.
• An Active Transportation Plan, adopted earlier this year, will foster further improvements to pedestrian and cycle safety, such as better-connected sidewalks and trails, intersection improvements, and enhanced connectivity between various modes of transportation.
• A Street Design Manual is currently under development and expected to be approved by the Fort Worth City Council this year, replacing a 31-year-old resource and helping the city incorporate elements of the Complete Streets Policy.
• A community-led effort is also in the works to redesign West 7th Street that will relieve traffic gridlock and provide a safer environment for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users. As part of those efforts, a new fleet of electric buses -- the Dash – will launch this fall, providing a greener, quieter option for efficient and reliable travel.
• Thanks to a grant from the North Central Texas Council of Governments and the city, more than $6 million will be invested in infrastructure around eight schools, making walking and riding to school easier and safer.

Dana is committed to removing impediments to natural movements. “It shouldn’t be harder to walk or bike than it is to drive,” she said. “It shouldn’t be harder to get healthy options than it is to go through the drive thru and get fast food.”