Exploring the Impact of Public Transportation on Health Outcomes by Investigating Accessibility and Equity among Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Population

The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of equitable access to public transportation on health outcomes among disadvantaged and rural populations. While there is a rich literature review that provides valuable insight into the relationship between public transit and health outcomes, there is a gap specifically addressing how equitable access to public transportation can reduce health disparities. In addition, most studies focus on urban settings, leaving the impacts on rural communities underexplored. Lastly, there is a need for more comprehensive data that considers the complex nature of transportation equity, including affordability, frequency of service, on-time performance, and the physical accessibility of transit infrastructure.  By understanding the relationship between transportation equity and health this research aims to inform decision-makers to create policies and interventions that can improve public transit systems to better serve disadvantaged populations and rural areas. This research will explore the hypothesis that improved access to public transportation correlates with better health outcomes and reduced health disparities. 

USDOT Priority:

Access to health care, health-related services, including nutritional and social networking, is vital, yet when this access is limited or non-existent, these inequities can lead to significant detrimental health outcomes, which may include postponing well visits at the risk of advancing debilitating illnesses and diseases, or the inability to meet nutritional needs, as examples.

This research activity directly supports USDOT’s Equity strategic goal:

• Reduce inequities across our transportation systems and the communities they affect. Support and engage people and communities to promote safe, affordable, accessible, and multimodal access to opportunities and services while reducing transportation-related disparities, adverse community impacts, and health effects.A synthesis of practice will be developed that includes the outcomes of three tasks, which will generate both quantitative and qualitative analyses, a literature review, stakeholder input with 10 to 15 advocate interviews, and four transit agency case studies (two urban and two rural).

Further, this research support’s USDOT’s research priorities. It includes an assessment of equity and accessibility, including the challenges that are faced by those for whom access to health care and other life sustaining services are limited. In addition, it is expected that the research will inform Mobility Innovation decision-making.