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.