Planners and public health professionals in Maine are working together to increase opportunities for physical activity and active transportation.
Maine's Public Health in Transportation (PHiT) Coalition is enabling public health and planning professionals to combine efforts and build healthy communities. Formed in 2011, PHiT works to build awareness of the relationship between transportation design and health; and to stimulate actions that result in improved health and safety. PHiT is comprised of a wide range of planning, public health, and non-profit advocacy organizations, each with unique and complementary skill sets.
This article highlights to of the coalition's success stories and offers resources for connecting public health and planning objectives:
- The Lakes Region Explorer, offering transit options for rural areas. The Coalition successfully promoted the Explorer, and worked to expand service locations.
- A "Complete Streets" event in Westbrook, Maine drew 200 residents out to experience their Main Street without vehicle traffic.
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North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research