Advancing equity in transportation: takeaways from the TRB Conference

To promote Equity, it is crucial to prioritize it from the beginning of projects, identify the target populations, and empower them to participate in the planning process. This strategy ensures that equity is infused throughout project activities and decision-making. Failing to do so may cause equity to be merely stated in principle without a clear link between intention and results.     

Last week at the Transportation Research Board (TRB) conference, Steer Associate Emily Alter gave a presentation on our groundbreaking equity work in the San Francisco Bay Area, where the definition of objectives and priority populations has been incorporated from the outset.   

Emily’s presentation, ‘Equity in context-responsive evaluation methodologies,’ discussed the equity approach that Steer used whilst developing the business case for Link 21 (as part of the HNTB PMC team).  

Link21 is conceived to provide a new connection between San Fransisco and Oakland, running beneath the San Francisco Bay, with wider implications and possibilities for the Northern California Megaregion and its rail network. 

A project like Link21, committed to improving regional equity as a key objective, requires an approach that is deeply grounded in the socioeconomic conditions of the local population and surrounding geography. 

Our context-responsive business case responds to the historical, cultural and sociodemographic characteristics of the Bay Area and wider Megaregion.

Emily’s talk highlighted the development of an original priority populations definition, an approach to integrating co-creation results into project outputs, and our equity evaluation methodology, all of which have been essential in evaluating the impact of Link21 against equity policies and objectives. 

What are our reflections on equity practice from TRB? 

In recent years, there have been significant investments in programs that aim to reconnect communities and increase community engagement by the Federal Government and state Departments of Transport (DOTs), giving more voice to communities in decision-making processes. 

Equity is being tackled at all levels of government and across various sectors, requiring collaboration from cities, states, federal agencies, transit operators, consultants, research institutions, and advocacy organizations. The industry has progressed since the first Conference on Advancing Transport Equity in 2021, and we have moved from conceptualizing equity to testing methods and sharing lessons learned.

Many DOTs and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) have integrated equity evaluation and performance measures into their Capital Investment Programs (CIPs), annual budgets, grant programs, and long-range transportation plans. But while robust engagement strategies are being emphasized to provide communities with a meaningful seat at the table, many involved are still waiting to see if equity initiatives will be fully realized.

As community fatigue begins to set in, it is important that equity practitioners hold each other accountable, ask tough questions and push for intentional thinking to prepare for external resistance. 

Despite uncertainties, equity practitioners remain committed to providing safer, more affordable transportation options to underserved communities.