2.6.2.1

Integrating equity frameworks in transportation requires a systematic approach that addresses disparities and promotes fairness, inclusivity and community engagement. Transportation inequity can be broadly categorized into three interrelated types:

• Spatial or Geographic Inequities: often related to historical discrimination or rural underinvestment.
• Modal Inequity: revolves around disparities in the availability, accessibility, and quality of different transportation modes.
• Social and Economic User Inequities: closely tied to socioeconomic factors. Marginalized and vulnerable groups might experience discrimination or safety concerns on top of reduced mobility and accessibility opportunities.

These steps are recommended to consider these inequalities in TAM planning processes:

1. Define Equity: Define the meaning and intent behind the words we use to describe transportation equity in the context of your organization.
2. Integrate Equity in Policies and Planning Processes: Embed equity considerations into transportation policies, plans, and guidelines to ensure all decisions consider fairness and inclusivity.
3. Establish clear equity objectives: Set objectives that address disparities and align with the needs of underserved communities, as well as with the strategic goals of the agency.
4. Identify Measurable Criteria: Define performance measures or indicator that are both measurable and conducive to achieving equity goals.
5. Identify performance gaps (inequities): Collect data to identify existing disparities in transportation access, services, and outcomes among different communities. Conduct equity analyses to evaluate how transportation policies, plans, and projects impact various groups, considering factors such as income, race, gender, age, and ability. Furthermore, ensure that evaluation is integrated into planning processes, prioritization schemes, and other related procedures.
6. Engage community: Solicit feedback from underserved communities and respond to their interests by crafting investment strategies with equity goals at the forefront. Employ diverse engagement tactics, including public meetings, surveys, focus groups, and online platforms, to ensure that all voices are heard.
7. Implement Equity Considerations: Continuously assess the impact of implemented initiatives on reducing disparities and enhancing access for marginalized communities and identify areas for improvement in the process.