Our transportation investments and the built environment — what we build and where — have an enormous impact on our health and the cost of our health care. With the debate over health care reform dominating the news daily, Transportation for America and coalition members from across the country took that powerful — yet often ignored or neglected — message to Capitol Hill leaders with a “health fly-in” last Friday.

The new 775-page draft of the House Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009 opens up with lofty language describing some goals and principles to guide the $450 billion transportation bill. But does reality match the rhetoric in the 774 pages that follow? We look at the nuts and bolts of the bill to see where it stacks up, breaking down an evaluation into positive areas, areas needing improvement, and notable omissions.

CONTACT: Cosabeth Bullock 202-478-6128 cbullock@mrss.com For Immediate Release: June 11, 2009 WASHINGTON, D.C. – More than 140 organizations have joined Transportation for America in signing a letter supporting the National Transportation Objectives Act of 2009 (HR 2427). The groups, representing a wide-breadth of interests, including health, equity, energy and the environment sectors, commend representatives Rush [...]