Colombia Transit System Expansion HIA

The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services partnered with the PedNet Coalition and Central Missouri Community Action in late 2011 to perform an HIA on the health effects of expanding and improving bus service in Columbia. The HIA focused on health indicators most likely to be affected by expansion of public transit, including physical activity and access to healthcare, employment, education, and healthy food. The HIA found that expanding and improving bus service would likely have positive effects on health by providing more opportunities for physical activity; improving access to healthy foods, particularly in food deserts; and improving access to employment and health care benefits associated with employment.