History

In Fall 2018, the the Blue Hills Community Health Alliance steering committee decided to pursue an action-oriented, solutions-based initiative to address transportation equity, considered one of the region’s most pressing social determinants of health. While there is much work being done in transportation both locally and throughout the state, many report that efforts are inefficient due to lack of meaningful, cross-sector collaborations to help coordinate existing systems and services.

Across the state of Massachusetts, Regional Coordinating Councils bring together stakeholders to share information, identify unmet needs, develop local and regional transportation priorities, and raise awareness of the importance of transportation in the lives of residents. Prior to this time, the Blue Hills region lacked a dedicated RCC, so the Blue Hills Community Health Alliance collaborated with MassMobility to establish one. Since January 2019 a group of over 20 stakeholders, including state transportation experts, regional planners, municipal officials, leaders of community-based organizations, transportation advocacy representatives, and residents, have met regularly to discuss transportation, accessibility, and mobility challenges in the area.

Project Goals

By 2025 we want:

Priority populations (i.e. residents who have limited access to private cars, people with disabilities, and those who have historically experienced racial or economic discrimination) to have easy access to public and/or private transportation options that are reliable, affordable, and safe.

Community-based organizations, municipal leaders, and other stakeholders to embrace transportation as a social determinant of health (SDoH) and work collaboratively (both across and within their respective sectors) to address relevant determinants.

Municipal and community-based organizations to make decisions that elevate priorities of residents who have historically been underserved and discriminated against by transportation policy.

Blue Hills RCC communities to have designated and designed spaces and routes for the needs of walkers, bikers, and transit riders of all ages and abilities.

An increase in the proportion of local, regional, and state level funding allocated towards projects making streets safer and healthier, and make public transportation options more reliable and affordable.

Individuals and families in the BHRCC region to see health improvements due to reduced social isolation, fewer missed medical and social service appointments, and improved access to the places that are important to them.

Funding

Support for the Blue Hills RCC is provided in part by grants from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation, Data Across Sectors for Health (DASH), and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Milton also generously provided funding, and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) has provided technical assistance for the first two phases of the project.

View the press releases from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation, DASH, and MassDOT on their community awards.