We know that transportation is about access to jobs and housing, about economic competitiveness, about convenience and quality of life, and a healthy environment.


Transportation is also about health. Our transportation system — roadways, bridges, public transit, sidewalks, and bike lanes — can have a profound impact on our health that we seldom pause to consider. For example, research shows that people who use public transit walk many times further each day than those who drive. On average, those who walk to and from the train or bus come close, just during their commute, to achieving the 22 minutes per day of moderate physical activity recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For people who live close to destinations, walking is both a healthy option and an economic boon for the community, but only if the route is well maintained and safe for pedestrians. Biking as a mode of transportation has seen a steady increase across Massachusetts, especially in places that support safe routes for cyclists through bike lanes and other means.

Increased walking and biking has a direct impact on our health, including lower body mass index and decreased risk of obesity and hypertension. Each of these conditions can lead to a host of negative health outcomes, from Type 2 diabetes to heart disease. Preventable chronic diseases are costly to both the patient and to society at large, and reducing their frequency offers the potential to save billions of dollars in future healthcare costs.

Additionally, every trip made by public transit, on foot, or by bike (rather than by car) means fewer emissions, better air quality, and better health outcomes for people with respiratory conditions such as asthma. It means fewer injuries and deaths from traffic accidents and increased safety for all road users, including motorists.

However, we know most riders don’t use public transit, break out their sneakers, or pump up those bike tires because they are concerned about their BMI or containing healthcare costs. They do it because it strikes the right balance of convenience, timeliness, and affordability that fits with where they need to go and when.

We’re making progress here in our own communities, with Safe Routes to School that are enabling more children to walk to school, and exciting projects like the Tri-Community Greenway & Bikeway that, when completed, will provide a six-mile, multi-use path connecting train stations, schools, municipal buildings, shops, and restaurants in Stoneham, Woburn and Winchester.

To help support healthy transportation options in our communities, I have filed new legislation called An Act relative to active streets and healthy communities. This bill would create a first-of-its-kind Active Streets Certification Program to provide an incentive for cities and towns across Massachusetts to routinely include complete streets design elements in local infrastructure projects. Those communities that achieve this certification would receive additional transportation funds from the state.

When public transit, walking and biking options are not available, unsafe, or unaffordable, more of us will opt for the slog through traffic as the best way to get to work or to the store. Every time this happens, we lose minutes of physical activity, increase harmful emissions, and increase the risks from traffic accidents. For residents without access to a car, it might mean missing a medical appointment or being forced to shop at a corner store stocked with processed foods rather than the produce section at a grocery store.

As we consider ways to improve transportation in Massachusetts, we should pursue policies that foster health and wellness in our communities.

I welcome your feedback on transportation and its impact on our health. Visit our website at www.RepJasonLewis.com. You can also reach me at 617 722-2017 or by email at Jason.Lewis@mahouse.gov.

Jason Lewis is the State Representative for the 31st Middlesex District serving Stoneham and Winchester.