Improving the Health of our Transportation Systems
A healthy life requires access to safe, reliable, and affordable transportation options. This was made clear to me during my time working for Northwestern Counseling and Support Services in Franklin County. In that job, I helped my clients as they struggled through adolescence and realized the limited opportunities available to them; opportunities limited, in part, due to a lack of reliable transportation.
Each day I would drive for hours between clients and put thousands of miles on my car. In contrast, my clients were frequently running into the obstacle of not having reliable transportation to be able to meet their basic needs. Their choices were to drive an unsafe vehicle, rely on others for a ride, or use public transportation that only came twice per day: once in the morning, and once at night. Some still would even need a ride just to get to the nearest bus stop. This led to my clients not being able to find employment that could provide them and their family with a livable wage. They did not have access to equitable healthcare options close to their home. They were ultimately stuck.
What I came to understand is that those with the means to afford it will move to places where getting around is easier but the cost of living is higher. Those who cannot afford to move are then pushed toward more rural communities with fewer infrastructural resources like public transportation. Those who are stuck relying on Vermont’s skeletal transportation system end up missing out on life-improving opportunities that they simply cannot get to on a reliable basis.
Soon this became my own reality. I found myself without a car, without a job, and with little hope that things would change for the better. My transportation options were dependent on those around me: my partner, a friend, a family member, or public transit. I hit those same obstacles that my clients had often faced in trying to find a job, missing doctor and dentist appointments, and losing valuable time with friends and family. Transportation is a critical factor that influences people’s health and the health of our community.
Health is not typically considered in transportation policy and planning, even though transportation is a major economic and social factor that influences an individual’s health and the health of our community. These health impacts are compounding, especially for those who hold marginalized identities. People of color, in particular, face increased barriers to transportation access because of systemic racism, the current transportation system’s dependence on automobile ownership, and, for New Americans, the lack of schedules and maps translated into languages other than English.
We see our rural transportation options marred by long commute routes at difficult times of day due to limited funding, and therefore low rider adoption. We know the importance of funding public transportation, but when we build or expand a system that doesn’t fit the needs of many, you’re left with an expensive bill and not much to show for it. A robust, affordable, and reliable transit system means better access to education and employment, recreational and after-school activities, healthier food options, healthcare facilities, as well as family and friends.
By integrating health-enhancing choices into transportation policy, we have the potential to save lives and money by preventing chronic diseases, reducing motor vehicle–related injury and deaths, and improving our environment. Accomplishing this will allow us to stimulate economic development and improve access to opportunity, health, and services for all Vermonters.
