36106, Montgomery, Alabama Hypertension Score Travel Score

The Travel Score for the Hypertension Score in 36106, Montgomery, Alabama is 72 when comparing 34,000 ZIP Codes in the United States.

85.59 percent of residents in 36106 to travel to work in 30 minutes or less.

When looking at the three closest hospitals, the average distance to a hospital is 1.87 miles. The closest hospital with an emergency room is Jackson Hospital & Clinic Inc with a distance of 1.54 miles from the area.

## Hypertension Score: Navigating Healthcare Access in Montgomery's 36106

Moving to Montgomery, Alabama, in ZIP Code 36106, presents a unique set of considerations, particularly for those managing hypertension. This write-up explores the landscape of healthcare access, focusing on transportation options and their impact on the ability to receive timely and consistent care. We'll delve into drive times, public transit, ride-sharing services, and medical transport, painting a picture of the challenges and opportunities for residents striving to maintain their health. The "Hypertension Score" isn't a formal metric, but rather a descriptive assessment of the ease with which individuals can reach essential medical appointments and services within this specific area.

The 36106 ZIP code encompasses a significant portion of Montgomery, a city steeped in history and undergoing revitalization. This area's healthcare access is influenced by its geographical layout and the availability of transportation infrastructure. The ability to reach medical providers is critical for individuals with hypertension, a condition requiring regular monitoring, medication management, and lifestyle adjustments. Inconsistent access can lead to uncontrolled blood pressure, increasing the risk of serious health complications.

**Driving the Distance: Roadways and Travel Times**

For many residents, driving remains the primary mode of transportation. The major thoroughfares in 36106 include Interstate 65 (I-65), Interstate 85 (I-85), and U.S. Highway 80. These highways offer relatively quick access to various healthcare facilities. However, rush hour traffic, particularly along I-85 and the intersections with Eastern Boulevard, can significantly extend travel times.

Consider a resident needing to visit Baptist Medical Center South, a major hospital located on Eastchase Parkway. From the heart of 36106, the drive typically takes 15-20 minutes during off-peak hours, utilizing Eastern Boulevard and connecting to I-85. During peak commuting times, this journey could easily stretch to 30 minutes or longer. Access to Jackson Hospital, located on the north side of the city, involves navigating through downtown Montgomery, potentially adding to travel time and stress.

Further complicating matters is the reliance on personal vehicles. Individuals without reliable transportation face significant barriers. The condition of local roads, including potholes and inadequate lighting, can also pose challenges, particularly for those with mobility issues or those driving older vehicles.

**Public Transit: A Limited Option**

Montgomery's public transportation system, operated by the Montgomery Area Transit System (MATS), offers a limited network of bus routes. While MATS serves the 36106 area, the frequency of service and the routes themselves may not always align with the needs of individuals seeking healthcare. Many routes operate on a schedule with limited evening and weekend service, making it difficult to reach appointments outside of standard business hours.

The availability of accessible features, such as wheelchair lifts and designated seating, is crucial for individuals with disabilities. MATS strives to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines, but the overall accessibility of the system is dependent on the specific route and the condition of the buses.

The routes that serve 36106 include routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 400, 401, 40