Grant: Project Grant

Public transit can improve mobility, reduce climate impacts, and support the economy. It can also impact health and health equity by influencing physical activity, well-being, and social connectedness. However, differences in access to transit based on factors like gender, race, and income means that not all residents benefit. As Canadian cities look to expand transit systems with greater attention to equity, they lack insight into impacts and perspectives of equity-deserving residents, and tools to understand the cost-benefit of public transit investments. This research will provide evidence and tools that harness public transit interventions to advance health and health equity in Canadian cities. Using a longitudinal mixed-methods research approach developed by INTERACT-a national collaboration of scientists and city builders-we aim to (1) Assess the quantitative health impacts of transit projects, overall and among equity-deserving groups; (2) Document the lived experiences and perceived impacts of transit projects among equity-deserving populations, before and after opening; and (3) Co-develop and apply a cost-benefit analysis tool that will model long-term health, climate, economic, and equity outcomes of public transit projects. Leveraging INTERACT's novel methods and extensive partnerships, our study will focus around two major transit projects in Saskatoon (Bus Rapid Transit) and Ottawa (Light Rail Transit). Findings will be shared through academic and practitioner-focused channels with the INTERACT Knowledge Hub to support future research, inform national dialogues on transportation and health, and guide local decisions to build healthier, more equitable cities.