23 May
2011
23 May
'11
12:18 p.m.
TRB Health and Transportation Subcommittee: Mission Statement and Scope
of Subcommittee
The mission of the Health and Transportation Subcommittee is to
identify, advance and publish research and information to expand and
improve current understanding and evaluation of the health impacts of
federal, state, regional and local transportation policies, procedures
and actions.
The scope of this Subcommittee includes a wide array of topics designed
to cover diverse impacts and issues related to health, with attention
given to vulnerable populations. Topics include, but are not limited to:
sustainable and active transportation modes (e.g., walking, biking,
transit), mobility, accessibility, safety, freight and aviation impacts
to health, transportation-related air pollution and noise impacts,
social cohesion, other social, physical and mental health impacts, the
distribution of those health impacts in the population (based on factors
including income, race and ethnicity, sex, age and English proficiency),
and the use of health impact assessments (HIAs) and other health metrics
and indicators to advance the consideration of health impacts in
transportation decision-making. The subcommittee will consider
approaches to maximizing health benefits and addressing potential
adverse impacts of transportation planning and policy decisions through
engineering and design solutions.
The subcommittee will fulfill its mission by serving as a focal point
for transportation issues and their health impacts, both positive and
negative. It will do so by reviewing and publishing research, sponsoring
paper calls, developing research proposals and contributing to the
knowledge base, and through the use of a variety of communication
methods. This Subcommittee will bring together a variety of disciplines
(e.g., engineers, public health professionals, planners,
epidemiologists, economists, advocates, elected officials, academics) to
advance the Subcommittee's mission and scope.