Investing in Public Transit Is Investing in Public Health

In an opinion piece in The Equation, Harvard medical student Aroub Yousuf argues that access to public transit is key to improving public health. Yousuf notes that public transportation is a vital public health strategy with numerous benefits. Beyond reducing car pollution, taking buses or trains significantly lowers carbon footprints, contributing 30% less to climate change than solo car travel.

Public transit fosters physical activity, curbing obesity and cardiovascular risks, while also enhancing mental well-being, especially among older adults. To fully realize these advantages, urgent investments are needed. Representative Hank Johnson's proposed Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act, allocating $20 billion annually for transit operations, offers a significant opportunity. Read Yousuf’s op-ed here.