243207 State of health equity issues in federal transportation policy

Monday, October 31, 2011: 10:30 AM

Rochelle Carpenter , Outreach, Transportation for America, Washington, DC
     
The renewal of the nation's federal transportation law is viewed by the Transportation for America campaign, and many other transportation reformers, as one of the best opportunities the country has had to align the investment of hundreds of billions of federal transportation dollars with the goals of reducing health disparities, striving for social equity, protecting the environment, reducing carbon emissions and oil dependence and strengthening communities and local economies.

During this presentation, I will provide an update on the authorization of the federal transportation bill since the expiration of the last authorization in September 2009 and discuss opportunities to promote health equity. The successes of and lessons learned from building a coalition of partners advocating healthy, equitable transportation policies will also be described. The following health equity issues will be addressed in this context in both metropolitan and rural areas: 1) Access to transit and essential destinations (which could include healthy foods) 2) Physical activity and attendant changes in chronic disease and mortality rates 3) Air pollution 4) Fatalities and injuries

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Environmental health sciences
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1) Describe the status of the federal transportation authorization. 2) Identify opportunities to reduce health disparities and promote equity in federal transportation policy. 3) Identify resources and partner organizations to assist with transportation health equity advocacy.

Keywords: Policy/Policy Development, Public Health Advocacy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I engage health equity partners in a campaign to reduce health disparities and promote social equity through federal transportation policy.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Getting from here to there: Promoting health and environmental justice through transportation policy
See more of: Environment