Data Sharing Between Transportation Planning And Public Health: Issues And Opportunities Using A Regional Eco-logical Framework

Abstract

Transportation planning has been shown to strongly impact public health yet collaboration and data or information sharing between the two communities is lacking. The Eco-Logical approach is a potential solution designed to advance transportation planning through an integrated planning process that includes other stakeholders. However, since the Eco-Logical approach provides no guidance on forming collaborations, network theory will be used to fill this hole. Both the Eco-Logical approach and network theory place heavy emphasis on information sharing and data exchange. This study will examine the current status of data sharing between transportation planning and public health through an analysis of available literature and case studies, and a survey of transportation planners and public health professionals in the Dallas Fort-Worth Metropolitan Area. Dallas-Fort Worth is area is significant for its growing population and lack of state or regional controls over planning. The purposes of the research are to identify opportunities and barriers to data sharing between the two communities and to make recommendations to improve data sharing.