Overview:
-A new Planet Detroit reporting project examines the intersection of public transit and public health in the city.
-"This is exactly the kind of work Planet Detroit is built to support," says founder and executive editor Nina Ignaczak.
-The work is supported by a national fellowship from the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism.
When you don’t own a car in Detroit, basic health needs — like getting to a doctor, pharmacy, or dialysis appointment — can become logistical nightmares. Public transportation often fails to meet the needs of those who rely on it most: older adults, people with disabilities, pregnant people, and residents managing chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension.
That’s the focus of an ambitious new reporting project by journalist Eleanore Catolico, supported by a national fellowship from the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism. Through a partnership with Planet Detroit’s Neighborhood Reporting Lab, the project will explore how Detroiters without reliable transportation navigate the city’s health care system, and the toll that takes on their physical and mental health.
“I’ve talked to transit advocates and regular bus riders in Detroit, who stressed to me that public transit is a lifeline for many in the city,” Catolico said.
“That stayed with me. I want to understand better how transportation affects someone’s health, well-being and sense of agency — like when a person with a chronic condition doesn’t have a car. What happens to them? What choices must they make? What resources are available to help?”
As part of her reporting, Catolico plans to examine whether Detroit’s transit routes support timely access to care, how residents cope when transportation options break down, and what role transit policy could play in improving community health outcomes.
“This is exactly the kind of work Planet Detroit is built to support,” said Nina Ignaczak, Planet Detroit’s founder and executive editor. “It centers community voices, connects environmental and health reporting, and aims to spark conversations that can lead to real change.”
Catolico will also bring the reporting back to community members in the form of presentations at local health fairs, churches, and through an online webinar. The goal is to share findings with both residents and decision-makers who have the power to influence Detroit’s transit future.
The project is one of several supported through the Annenberg Center’s 2025 National Fellowship, which provides funding and mentoring to health journalists across the country.
“The USC national fellowship offers me the resources and expert guidance I need to undertake an ambitious reporting project that I hope is both revelatory, impactful, and a public service to Detroiters,” Catolico said.
If you’ve experienced challenges with transportation and accessing healthcare, we want to hear from you. Please get in touch with Eleanore at eleanore@planetdetroit.org or complete the survey below.
Stay tuned to Planet Detroit for the full series this fall.