Understanding how transportation policy impacts different communities, including access to jobs, education, and healthcare.
History of Transportation Policy and Planning: Understanding the evolution of transportation policy and planning can provide valuable insight into the social equity issues that have arisen over time.
Definition and Application of Social Equity: Exploring the concept of social equity, and how it pertains to transportation policy and planning.
Transportation and Land Use Planning: The integration of land use planning and transportation planning is necessary for ensuring equitable access to mobility.
Transportation Modes and Social Equity: Examining the relationship between different transportation modes and how they can promote or hinder social equity outcomes.
Access to Public Transportation: Evaluating the availability and accessibility of public transportation, and how it can contribute to social equity outcomes.
Transportation and Health Equity: Exploring the nexus between transportation and health equity, and how transportation planning can impact health outcomes.
Transportation and Environmental Justice: Examining the connection between transportation and environmental justice, and how transportation planning can help mitigate environmental burdens and promote environmental equity.
Transportation and Rural Communities: Understanding the unique challenges that rural communities face in terms of transportation equity, and potential strategies for addressing those challenges.
Transportation and Urban Communities: Examining how transportation planning can promote social equity outcomes in urban areas, and the challenges that must be overcome to achieve those outcomes.
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD): Exploring the concept of TOD, and how it can promote social equity outcomes by linking transit and land use planning.
Complete Streets: Understanding the benefits of complete streets policies for promoting social equity outcomes, and the challenges associated with implementing these policies.
Transportation and Economic Development: Examining the role of transportation in economic development, and how transportation planning can promote social equity outcomes through targeted investment strategies.
Transportation and Equity Analysis: Understanding how equity analysis can be used to evaluate transportation policies and projects, and identify strategies for promoting better social equity outcomes.
Sustainable Transportation: Exploring the connections between sustainable transportation and social equity, and how transportation planning can promote both sustainability and social equity.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Exploring the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in transportation planning, and strategies for promoting these values in transportation policy and practice.
Public Transit: Public transit is any mode of transportation that is available to the public, such as buses, trains, subways, and light rail systems. It is a crucial component of social equity transportation policies, serving as an affordable and accessible option for individuals and families with limited mobility or financial resources.
Biking and Walking: Walking and biking are modes of transportation that promote physical activity, positively affect the environment, and offer low-cost modes of transportation. However, there are concerns about how easy these modes of transportation are for lower-income individuals who may not have safe walking or bike infrastructure in their neighborhood.
Ride-Sharing Services: Ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft have become increasingly popular over the past decade, providing an alternative to traditional taxis and car rentals. These services can sometimes be more expensive than other forms of transportation, thus raising concerns about social equity.
Vehicle Ownership: Vehicle ownership is important for many communities, especially rural or tight-knit ones. However, access to affordable and reliable vehicles can be a challenge for low-income families, and requirements and costs for car ownership (e.g., drivers' licenses, insurance, parking) can make owning a vehicle prohibitive for some.
Freight Transportation: Freight transportation concerns the delivery of goods from businesses, factories, or distribution centers to retailers or customers. While it may not seem directly related to social equity, it does affect access to goods (e.g., groceries, clothing) for communities unable to reach stores outside of their neighborhood.
Aviation: Air transportation is often seen as a luxury form of transportation, and certain social equity issues may arise for individuals and communities who cannot afford airfare, access to nearby airports or the amenities they provide.
Maritime Transportation: Maritime transportation involves the shipping of goods and people via waterways (e.g., rivers, lakes, oceans). Similar to freight transportation, maritime transportation affects the access of goods to certain communities.