This analysis identifies ODOT KPM Priority Corridor segments within 800 meters (~1/2 mile) of School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) or Rural Health Centers (RHCs) and summarizes the extent of overlap. More information is on the ODOT Performance Measures
In 2023, ODOT and the Oregon Legislature adopted a new key performance measure (KPM) which assesses walkway and bikeway quality and marked crossing spacing while focusing on priority corridors. This target is calculated using the average percentage of two metrics measuring completeness of ODOT priority corridors:
Priority corridors include 301.18 miles of ODOT’s state highway system, including couplets, or pairs of parallel one-way streets that carry traffic in opposing directions. Priority corridors were selected by ODOT Region staff and informed by the 2020 ODOT Active Transportation Needs Inventory (ATNI). ATNI is a tool that ranks highway segments based on multiple criteria, including crash history, crash risk, access to transit, essential destinations, social equity, and existing facilities.
SBHCs are medical clinics that offer children and youth health care either in a school or on school grounds. They help children and youth get the care they need when they need it. SBHCs have primary care providers such as doctors, nurse practitioners and physicians’ assistants. Some have dental and mental health providers. They work with school nurses to help youth stay healthy and in school. Community partnerships that include schools, school boards, parents, students and medical professionals create and support SBHCs.
Rural Heath Centers (RHC) are a part of the Rural Health Center Program which was established by Public Law 95-210, the Rural Health Clinic Service Act, in 1977 to increase primary care services for Medicaid and Medicare patients in rural communities. RHCs receive special Medicare and Medicaid rates, depending on the type of services that the clinic provides and the payer mix of the patient population. RHCs may operate as public, private, or non-profit entities. The national organizing body for RHCs is the National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC).
This brief analysis aims to see what ODOT Priority Corridors are near SBHCs to determien the feasibility of using Rural Health Transportation funding to improve access to those clinics.
ODOT Priority Corridor Segments, SBHC and RHC locations were spatially analyzed using an 800-meter (~ 1/2 mile) buffer around each SBHC and RHC. Segments intersecting these buffers were identified, and summary statistics were calculated.
The results show there are 17 ODOT Priority Network segments near an SBHC in Oregon and 22 Priority Segments near HBCs. Further analysis needed to determine which are in areas defined as rural by OHA but at least a few exist based on visual inspection.
| Metric | Count |
|---|---|
| Total ODOT KPM Priority Corridor Segments in Oregon | 76 |
| Total Corridor Miles | 0 |
| KPM Priority Segments Near SBHC (800m) | 17 |
| Miles Near SBHC (800m) | 0 |
| Unique SBHCs Near Corridor | 24 |
| KPM Priority Segments Near RHC (800m) | 22 |
| Miles Near RHC (800m) | 0 |
| Unique RHCs Near Corridor | 26 |