Disparities in public transit access to healthcare in Austin, Texas

Introduction: Unequal healthcare access is linked to disparities in health outcomes. Public transit plays a critical role in promoting equitable healthcare access, particularly for disadvantaged populations. This study aims to assess disparities in hospital access via public transit in Austin, Texas, while considering socioeconomic and demographic factors. Methods: We analyzed 30 hospitals using data from Definitive Healthcare, alongside demographic and socioeconomic factors for 283 census tracts in and around Austin, Texas, obtained from the U. S. Census Bureau. Variables included the percentage of the population who are Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, uninsured, or have incomes below the poverty level. Using the TravelTime Isochrone API, we delineated one-hour public transit catchment areas for each hospital and overlaid them with demographic and socioeconomic data to examine spatial disparities in healthcare access and identify underserved communities. Results: Overall, people in the western and eastern parts of the city lack hospital service coverage accessible by public transit within 1 hour. Of the 283 census tracts, 160 are either partially covered (125 tracts) or not covered at all (35 tracts), with 72 of the partially covered tracts having less than 50 percent area coverage. The eastern area has higher proportions of Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and uninsured populations, reflecting greater disparities. Discussion: The results revealed notable disparities in healthcare access via public transit, where limited hospital coverage overlaps with high social and economic vulnerability. Targeted transit and healthcare planning for underserved areas and populations is needed to reduce these inequities.