Transportation planning projects often have a range of health implications.  The Massachusetts Healthy Transportation Compact is an inter-agency initiative designed to foster transportation decisions that balance the needs of all transportation users, expand mobility, improve public health, support a cleaner environment and create stronger communities.  Under M.G.L. Chapter 6C, Section 33 the Healthy Transportation Compact is directed to:

• (v) establish methods to implement the use of health impact assessments (HIAs) to determine the effect of transportation projects on public health and vulnerable populations; and
• (x) institute a health impact assessment for use by planners, transportation administrators, public health administrators and developers.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) received funds from The Health Impact Project, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts, to conduct a transportation-related HIA.  The HIA will provide supplemental health data analyses to augment the Grounding McGrath Study and promote decision-making for optimal transportation design.

On April 4, 2013, the MDPH, Bureau of Environmental Health (BEH) released the draft HIA on their website. The 30-day comment period is open through May 5, 2013.

Public comments may be submitted to the MDPH/BEH during the 30-day comment period (April 5, 2013 – May 5, 2013) via email or via mail to: