Renya Maku, a second-year MPH student at USF’s College of Public Health (COPH), has recently joined the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) of Forward Pinellas, the county’s land use and transportation planning agency. 

Forward Pinellas provides a forum for countywide decision-making on transportation and land use issues. It assists Pinellas County’s 24 cities and unincorporated Pinellas County with technical support, regional coordination and policy advice/guidance when it comes to transportation and the use of land. The CAC, whose members are appointed, provide Forward Pinellas with public input on the group’s plans and policies.

Maku, who’s concentrating in epidemiology, says she’s always been interested in the built environment and how it impacts quality of life and well-being. 

“Tampa Bay, for example, is a very vehicle-centric area, and there aren’t many safe, accessible or robust bike lane systems or sidewalks that link people to other communities or services,” she said. “In fact, in 2021 Pinellas County was the most dangerous county for bicyclists and pedestrians based on fatality data.”

It was a public health course—Translation to Public Health Practice, to be exact—that prompted Maku to get involved in community improvement.

“This class and the experience of a semester-long project with a large group made me realize I want to get involved in something that has the potential to shape my community and greatly impact its health and quality of life,” she said. “I looked into committees and boards at Forward Pinellas and similar organizations and that is how I found the CAC.”

As a CAC board member, Maku helps inform Forward Pinellas about public opinion. “My role is to help guide the group’s work developing a community-focused, modern and safe transportation system that provides equitable access and efficient transportation options promoting health, sustainability and economic growth,” she explained. “Expanded and safer transportation options are a community-wide benefit that can boost the local economy and create sustainable growth, increase job opportunities and access to health services, make us healthier and improve our quality of life overall.”

Maku sees public health and safe transportation as intricately intertwined. 

“Robust, safe and accessible transportation options have been associated with improved access to services, education, healthy food options and stronger local economies—as well as decreased rates of chronic diseases like asthma or obesity due to lower air pollution and increased physical activity,” she noted. “The investments don’t necessarily need to be in public transportation, they can be in active transportation like bike and walking options. If we make bike lanes safer by, for example, painting them a different color that creates contrast on the road that a distracted driver will see, we may improve injury and fatality rates. Similarly, if we consider requiring motorcyclists and/or bicyclists to wear helmets, just as seat belts are required for drivers, we may prevent injuries and fatalities that are generally high in our community.”

Given the explosion of growth in the Tampa Bay area, Maku says the time to get involved is now.

“Let’s learn from the shortcomings of other growing cities like Austin, Tex., which has a had a difficult time keeping their infrastructure up with population growth,” she said. “Tampa Bay is also experiencing growth, so why not plan and stay ahead of any possible barriers to a beautiful, healthy and vibrant community?”

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health