This project explores the current building and land use within the South Mountain Village (SMV) area. The South Central Light Rail extension corridor serves as a focus area, including a half mile radius around each of the five proposed light rail stations. Research of the area included analyzing SMV demographic information, analyzing land use and zoning, conducting a site visit, researching case studies, and information on current City of Phoenix, and other transit oriented development plans. Based on the research and case studies, recommendations and propositions are made for:

1. The implementation of a community-based transit oriented development.
2. The integration of green infrastructure and urban agriculture.
3. Best land management practices.
4. Policy to ensure appropriate and sustainable planning for the future.

With the proposed expansions in the Valley around the Rio Salado river, a new opportunity arises to develop and innovate infrastructure which will benefit many city stakeholders. One of the areas affected by this expansion is the South Mountain Village, which is located just southeast of ASU’s Tempe campus and is the focused location of this analysis. As it stands, South Mountain Village exhibits a lack luster transportation infrastructure. Underutilized paved asphalt lots, highly distressed and failing pavement as well as inadequate pedestrian modes of transportation are all examples of poor infrastructure in need of renovation. The Rio Salado 2.0 revitalization project provides necessary funding, resources and support of the surrounding community to make progressive changes to the transportation infrastructure of South Mountain. Proposed changes to the existing transportation infrastructure will ultimately encourage connectivity between modes of transportation.

The main objective of the transportation network for Rio Salado 2.0 would be to determine the location of a centralized rail extension within the bounds of the project area. The rail extension would have the capabilities of transporting commuters from the area to Phoenix where most daily activities, such as work occur. The rail extension will focus on being centralized to maximize the accessibility for commuters but will also be influenced by heavily populated areas. In addition, the extension will also be determined by researching the most frequently used transit paths currently. Taking all these factors into consideration, a location for the rail extension will be determined. Once this goal is accomplished, another sub goal is created which involves increasing the connectivity of the transportation system.

The overall connectivity of the system is an important goal when proposing a rail extension, because there must be ways for commuters to get to the rail system. To accomplish this goal, bus routes, bike paths, and walkability of transit will all be analyzed. The system will be connected by having bike paths and sidewalks lead to bus stops that will take commuters to the rail station. In addition, bike paths and sidewalks near the rail extension will lead directly to the station to make rides quicker. Another possible option is adding a bike-sharing program to increase connectivity of the system between lines, especially those that cannot afford the maintenance and upfront cost of a well-equipped bicycle. Also, this may be a cheaper solution, the idea of the bike-sharing connecting transit rail lines, compared to building connecting transit lines, which may take more time as well. Improving the overall connectivity of the system leads to another minor goal of the transportation network for the project area, which will include improving the quality of the system.

Currently, bike paths, sidewalks, and bus stops are unattractive and disincentives the use of non-automobile transportation because of the poor condition they are in. To promote transit use, the system must be safe and desirable to use. The bike paths should be protected in high traffic areas, adequate shading around the paths should be provided for hot summers, and the bike lanes should not abruptly end. In addition, sidewalks should be shaded and be constructed properly with no infrastructure issues, such as large cracks or breaks in the cement. In order to promote cycling, off road infrastructures will be explored along the Salt River and Western Canals. In addition, to increase overall connectivity the configuration of the roadways will need to be adjusted for additional bike lanes and sidewalks. However, it is important to conduct an analysis that configures the roadway to maintain the current level of service with automobile congestion.

This report examines the energy infrastructure in the South Mountain Village of Phoenix AZ. The report is in support of the Rio Grande 2.0 project being implemented by the City of Phoenix in conjunction with Arizona State University. The report focuses on a small section of the village, for which we create energy demand profiles, solar generation profiles, and solar + storage generation profiles. We utilize these profiles to demonstrate the impact that neighborhood solar will have on the grid. We additionally research SRP’s deployment of smart grid technologies and SRP’s plans for the future of their power system. The report examines the benefits, and challenges of microgrid development in South Mountain Village. We undertake this study to identify strategies that increase energy efficiency, that implement resilient and redundant systems in the existing energy grid, and that provide flexibility and adaptability to the community’s energy systems.

Deploying these strategies will ensure the sustained provision of energy to the community in the event of catastrophic events. We demonstrate that the installation of rooftop solar photovoltaics on residential buildings in conjunction with battery storage systems proves more than sufficient to provide power to the residents of South Mountain Village. We explore the benefits and challenges for the development of smart grid infrastructure and microgrid networks in the village. We determine that the implementation of a smart grid and a parallel microgrid improves the resiliency of the Village’s energy systems. While SRP has managed to make progressive steps forward in implementing Smart Grid technologies, they can continue this progression by developing a unified communication system that is secure through cyber security measures to allow for reliable energy service to their customers. A hybrid development of smart grid and microgrid technologies in the village that employs rooftop solar photovoltaics and battery storage will provide community members with the resilient energy infrastructure they require in a future which entails multiplied risks of catastrophic events like increased heat waves and cyber attacks.

This study addresses the social and physical constraints and opportunities for South Mountain Village, particularly along the Rio Salado as it intersects with the proposed light rail extension on Central Avenue. The primary goals guiding this document are ecological restoration, social and physical connectivity, maintenance, management, development and future planning. This study discusses the history of the Rio Salado riparian area, analyses current riparian conditions, and provides context from similar cases both locally and nationally.

It has been demonstrated that access to recreational opportunities can improve the livelihood and reduce negative health effects for residents nearby. With this in mind, the physical connectivity of South Mountain residents is assessed to determine the degree of accessibility to recreational areas of the Rio Salado. This analysis will also be used to address areas in which residents do not have equitable access and will be used to guide recommendations to increase that access. Additionally, as growth occurs, existing social vulnerability concerns are addressed in regard to marginalized populations relying on the area’s ecological and grey infrastructure for refuge.

As the Rio Salado 2.0 Project and the Valley Metro South Central light rail extension begins construction and the opportunity to develop increases, residents and business owners are concerned that redevelopment will affect the integrity and connectivity of the area. This study outlines how these changes may affect stakeholders while keeping the area accessible and equitable for all. Evaluation of the sites and parcels surrounding the Rio Salado for future development while taking into account its rich history and needs of the community is important for the community and the City of Phoenix as a whole. This study incorporates concepts from the Rio Salado Beyond the Banks Area Plan and other existing plans and regulations for the area. This study aims to provide a roadmap for future development along the Rio Salado at South Mountain Village in a sustainable and equitable way.

This study aims to examine children’s fruit, vegetable, and added sugar consumption relative to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the American Heart Association’s recommendations, as well as to compare children’s reported consumption with parental perception of the child’s overall diet quality. Data were drawn from 2 independent, cross sectional panels (2009–10 and 2014–15) of the New Jersey Child Health Study. The analytical sample included 2229 households located in five New Jersey cities. Daily consumption of fruit (cups), vegetables (cups), and added sugars (teaspoons) for all children (3–18 years old) were based on parent reports. Multivariate linear regression analyses estimated children’s adjusted fruit, vegetable, and added sugar consumption across parents’ perception categories (Disagree; Somewhat Agree; and Strongly Agree that their child eats healthy). Although only a small proportion of children meet recommendations, the majority of parents strongly agreed that their child ate healthy. Nonetheless, significant differences, in the expected direction, were observed in vegetable and fruit consumption (but not sugar) across parental perceptional categories for most age/sex groups. Dietary interventions tailored to parents should include specific quantity and serving-size information for fruit and vegetable recommendations, based on their child’s age/sex, and highlight sources of added sugar and their sugar content.

Disparities in healthy food access are well documented in cross-sectional studies in communities across the United States. However, longitudinal studies examining changes in food environments within various neighborhood contexts are scarce. In a sample of 142 census tracts in four low-income, high-minority cities in New Jersey, United States, we examined the availability of different types of food stores by census tract characteristics over time (2009–2017). Outlets were classified as supermarkets, small grocery stores, convenience stores, and pharmacies using multiple sources of data and a rigorous protocol. Census tracts were categorized by median household income and race/ethnicity of the population each year. Significant declines were observed in convenience store prevalence in lower- and medium-income and majority black tracts (p for trend: 0.004, 0.031, and 0.006 respectively), while a slight increase was observed in the prevalence of supermarkets in medium-income tracts (p for trend: 0.059). The decline in prevalence of convenience stores in lower-income and minority neighborhoods is likely attributable to declining incomes in these already poor communities. Compared to non-Hispanic neighborhoods, Hispanic communities had a higher prevalence of small groceries and convenience stores. This higher prevalence of smaller stores, coupled with shopping practices of Hispanic consumers, suggests that efforts to upgrade smaller stores in Hispanic communities may be more sustainable.

Objective

In response to recent national efforts to increase the availability of healthy food in small stores, we sought to understand the extent to which small food stores could implement the newly published Healthy Small Store Minimum Stocking Recommendations and reflect on the new US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service's final rule for stocking of staple foods for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–approved retailers.

Design

We collected qualitative and quantitative data from 57 small stores in four states (Arizona, Delaware, Minnesota, and North Carolina) that accepted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program but not Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children benefits. Data from semistructured, in-depth interviews with managers/owners were transcribed, coded, and analyzed. We collected quantitative store inventory data onsite and later performed descriptive analyses.

Results

Store interviews revealed a reluctant willingness to stock healthy food and meet new recommendations. No stores met recommended fruit and vegetable stocking, although 79% carried at least one qualifying fruit and 74% carried at least one qualifying vegetable. Few stores met requirements for other food categories (ie, whole grains and low-fat dairy) with the exception of lean proteins, where stores carrying nuts or nut butter were more likely to meet the protein recommendation. Water and 100% juice were widely available and 68% met basic healthy beverage criteria.

Conclusions

In contrast to the inventory observed, most owners believed store stock met basic recommendations. Further, findings indicate that small stores are capable of stocking healthy products; however, technical and infrastructure support, as well as incentives, would facilitate shifts from staple to healthier staple foods. Retailers may need support to understand healthier product criteria and to drive consumer demand for new products.

Background

The transition from the home to college is a phase in which emerging adults shift toward more unhealthy eating and physical activity patterns, higher body mass indices, thus increasing risk of overweight/obesity. Currently, little is understood about how changing friendship networks shape weight gain behaviors. This paper describes the recruitment, data collection, and data analytic protocols for the SPARC (Social impact of Physical Activity and nutRition in College) study, a longitudinal examination of the mechanisms by which friends and friendship networks influence nutrition and physical activity behaviors and weight gain in the transition to college life.

Methods

The SPARC study aims to follow 1450 university freshmen from a large university over an academic year, collecting data on multiple aspects of friends and friendship networks. Integrating multiple types of data related to student lives, ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) are administered via a cell phone application, devilSPARC. EMAs collected in four 1-week periods (a total of 4 EMA waves) are integrated with linked data from web-based surveys and anthropometric measurements conducted at four times points (for a total of eight data collection periods including EMAs, separated by ~1 month). University databases will provide student card data, allowing integration of both time-dated data on food purchasing, use of physical activity venues, and geographical information system (GIS) locations of these activities relative to other students in their social networks.

Discussion

Findings are intended to guide the development of more effective interventions to enhance behaviors among college students that protect against weight gain during college.

In response to lack of access to healthy foods, many low-income communities are instituting local healthy corner store programs. Some stores also participate in the United States Department of Agriculture's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This study used two assessment tools to compare the healthfulness of offerings at stores participating in local healthy store programs (upgraded stores), WIC, and/or SNAP to that of similar non-participating stores.

Based on store audits conducted in 315 New Jersey corner stores in 2014, we calculated healthy food availability scores using subsections of the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey for Corner Stores (NEMS-CS-Availability) and a short-form corner store audit tool (SCAT). We used multivariable regression to examine associations between program participation and scores on both instruments.

Adjusting for store and block group characteristics, stores participating in a local healthy store program had significantly higher SCAT scores than did non-participating stores (upgraded: M = 3.18, 95% CI 2.65–3.71; non-upgraded: M = 2.52, 95% CI 2.32–2.73); scores on the NEMS-CS-Availability did not differ (upgraded: M = 12.8, 95% CI 11.6–14.1; non-upgraded: M = 12.5, 95% CI 12.0–13.0). WIC-participating stores had significantly higher scores compared to non-participating stores on both tools. Stores participating in SNAP only (and not in WIC) scored significantly lower on both instruments compared to non-SNAP stores.

WIC-participating and non-SNAP corner stores had higher healthfulness scores on both assessment tools. Upgraded stores had higher healthfulness scores compared to non-upgraded stores on the SCAT.