Smart Ideas at the Intersection of Transportation, Health, ...(in a truly sustainable inter-modal trans...),Health

Our auto-centric transportation system leaves many to struggle to get to work, to the grocery store, and to doctors appointments. About 19 percent of African-Americans and 13.7 percent of Latinos lack access to cars, while only 4.6 percent of whites do. Poverty complicates the problem: 33 percent of poor African-Americans, 25 percent of poor Latinos, and 12.1 percent of poor whites lack car access. Simply put, if you're a poor person of color, our transportation system does not serve you well.

"Low-income Americans are hit hard by the double-whammy of poor health and poor access to transportation," said Judith Bell, president of PolicyLink and a co-author of the report. "Policymakers too often don't see the connection between these two problems, though. Congress can make an enormous difference in the health of Americans by encouraging safer, less-polluting forms of transportation and ensuring those new transportation options help boost economic development in vulnerable communities, and connect them to opportunity and essential goods and services."

As a leader in national transportation policy, Rep. Oberstar's involvement in the report signals his key support for a safe, accessible transportation system for all Americans.

The report -- commissioned by the Convergence Partnership, a collaboration of funders who have come together with the shared goal of changing policies and environments to better achieve the vision of healthy people living in healthy places -- lays out 11 key policy proposals, including:

• encouraging and funding healthy and environmentally responsible transportation options like buses, light rail, subways, biking, and walking;

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