Rapid health impact assessment of policies to reduce vehicle miles traveled in Oregon

SummaryObjectiveHealth impact assessments (HIAs) enable decisions-makers to assess proposed policies, projects and programmes with respect to their potential health impact. The purpose of this rapid HIA was to inform the debate within a state legislature about the value of state policy and provide information for local planning agencies to better incorporate health considerations into planning activities.Study designRapid HIA.MethodsLiterature review was used to evaluate three types of policies to reduce vehicle miles traveled: improving the built environment, increasing the costs of individual driving, and strengthening public transit.ResultsSelect features of the built environment were found to be associated with increased physical activity, reduced collisions, and decreased air pollution. Increasing the cost of driving was not consistently found to reduce air pollution, increase physical activity, or reduce collisions. Strengthening public transit was associated with increased levels of physical activity.ConclusionsThis rapid HIA provides a framework and focus for future HIAs in this topic area.