Destination Access and Health – Data Exploration
This research will explore the connection between destination access and health utilizing a new transportation destination access data source. The National Accessibility Evaluation (NAE) pooled fund study has been producing access to jobs data by mode at the census block level since 2015. Data for 2022 (released to pooled fund partner states in 2024) and soon to be released 2023 data includes access to destination types besides jobs: education, healthcare, groceries, entertainment, and intermodal freight. Healthcare, groceries, and entertainment are associated with physical and mental health. This data set consists of Census block-to-destination travel times for each category; by four modes auto, bike, transit, and walk; and up to the 5th nearest destination by mode in each category. Eight new health-related destinations in three categories are included: • Healthcare - Federally qualified health centers; Rural health clinics; Trauma centers; and Urgent care • Groceries - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailers • Entertainment - Convention centers; Fairgrounds; and Major sports venues This project will also include exploring the availability of health outcome data and what might fit for the connection between destination access and health. Future phases and/or expansion of this research could include: • Access to parks and green spaces, another identified pathway to health, would enhance a transportation accessibility health index. • Physical activity, another pathway to health, could be represented with access to active transportation infrastructure, and access to recreational facilities such as gyms, swimming pools, or tennis courts. A future phase of research could explore a compatible methodology for possible inclusion in a connection between destination access and health. • Access to community spaces such as community centers, cultural halls, libraries, or religious facilities could also enhance this work. Access to community activities helps limit social exclusion, identified as a pathway detrimental to health, and could be explored for possible in a transportation accessibility health index. • With the NAE data available for all modes for the location types, the new pathway mobility independence could also be explored for possible connection.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $43,000.00
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Contract Numbers:
69A3552348329
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Sponsor Organizations:
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Managing Organizations:
1111 Rellis Parkway
Bryan, Texas United States 77807 -
Project Managers:
Ocon, Monica
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Performing Organizations:
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX United States 77843-3135 -
Principal Investigators:
Belden, Deanna
- Start Date: 20250527
- Expected Completion Date: 20260131
- Actual Completion Date: 0
- USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers
- Source Data: 02-14-TTI
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Accessibility; Health; Origin and destination
- Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Transportation (General);
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01976226
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health (CARTEEH)
- Contract Numbers: 69A3552348329
- Files: UTC, RIP
- Created Date: Jan 13 2026 2:58PM