BACKGROUND

Public transportation provides a variety of health benefits to its passengers and to other residents and visitors in the communities it serves. Several key benefits include:

• Increased physical activity and better emotional well-being. 
• Improved air quality and reduced noise. 
• More affordable, better mobility, and greater independence. 

Public transportation agencies and their partners throughout the United States need better framing and more effective communication tools regarding the health benefits of public transportation. Better information will help residents make healthier travel choices and will also help communities in urban, suburban, and rural areas plan and invest in travel options to improve their health and well-being.  

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this research is to develop an evidence-informed resource for public transportation agencies and their partners that focuses on the health benefits of public transportation. The resource, while acknowledging the possible adverse health effects of public transportation should (1) present best available research on the health benefits of public transportation in urban, suburban, and rural areas; (2) address equity considerations and barriers regarding the health benefits of public transportation for all communitiesand for current and potential transit riders; (3) identify improvements that public transportation agencies and their partners can implement to further increase health benefits and mitigate the adverse health effects of public transportation; (4) identify data, methods, and potential metrics that can be used to measure and track the health benefits of publictransportation; and (5) provide actionable communication tools for use by public transportation agencies and their partners.

STATUS: The research is underway.