Health Implications of Transportation: A Detroit Case Study

Abstract

Many metropolitan areas have been deliberately designed for cars, without the consideration of inclusive and reliable public transit. Transportation links people to employment and resources necessary for upward mobility. In an economically deprived city where a large percentage of residents are without personal vehicles, a broken public transit system perpetuates the cycle of poverty. This is the case in Detroit, which remains the largest metropolitan area in the United States without an adequate regional transit system. Racial animosity and the decline of the automotive industry drove a deep wedge between the city and the suburbs, which continues today and results in stark health and economic disparities. The region’s underfunded and uncoordinated transit network fails to reliably connect carless residents to employment opportunities and nutritious food sources in the suburbs – adversely affecting the health of Detroiters. While there have been several attempts at more inclusive regional transit, all proposals thus far have been met with strong opposition from suburban officials and voters. Southeast Michigan must invest in a coordinated and reliable public transit network for all residents for the betterment of both public health and the economy.