Comprehensive Health Impact Assessment for Active Travel: The "Pasta" Project Approach

Abstract

PASTA (Physical-Activity-through-Sustainable-Transport-Approaches) is a European project that aims to promote and assess active travel and develops a new comprehensive Health Impact Assessment (HIA) model for active travel (AT). Objective: Describe the HIA approach used in the PASTA project. Conduct workshops and individual interviews with experts and stakeholders in seven study cities (Antwerp, Barcelona, London, Orebro, Rome, Vienna, and Zurich). Conduct a systematic review (SR) on active travel HIA, and cost benefits analysis. Quantify health and environmental risks and benefits related with AT interventions and assess the uncertainties. Report and communicate the results to stakeholders, experts and citizens. The workshops and interviews showed their importance to identify: 1) the main policies on AT; 2) the priorities and expectations of HIA in the decision-making process; 3) data sources; and 4) key stakeholder-networks for participation and dissemination. The SR showed research gaps in: 1) identification and quantification of health determinants of AT (e.g. physical activity, traffic hazards, air pollution, etc.); 2) selection relative risks based on the weight of evidence; 3) harmonization of methods, definitions and assumptions used; and 4) the close collaboration between urban planners, transport practitioners and health experts. The novel mixed methods approach of integrating stakeholder and expert workshops, interviews, systematic reviews and evidence-based approaches in the HIA process are necessary advancements for comprehensive HIA of AT.