To increase equity in transportation planning, this project sought to identify key performance indicators that can measure the effects of transportation projects on vulnerable populations and to develop a framework for incorporating equity into the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) planning processes for long-range, regional, and corridor planning initiatives.
The Washington State Legislature’s 2021 Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act sets the goal that 40 percent of major state expenditures be directed toward overburdened communities, vulnerable populations, and Tribes. It mandates that environmental justice analyses be performed by seven state agencies, including WSDOT.
In response to that mandate, the researchers for this project combed the literature for both leading indicators for transportation equity and the performance metrics to measure them. The concept of leading indicators comes from the field of occupational safety. In the context of transportation equity, they can be defined as proactive and preventive measures that may indicate the potential equity impacts of transportation plans. This includes revealing potential inequities so that they may be addressed early and at every level possible in the transportation planning process. The researchers organized the identified transportation equity indicators within the classifications of accessibility, mobility and economy, land use and displacement, environmental health and safety, and qualitative and engagement.
The researchers also consulted with community members and surveyed planners to gather further information about strategies that have been or could be used to address equity issues. The 207 surveyed community members provided insights into community needs and perceptions, as well as into the community engagement process as a whole. The survey of 36 WSDOT planners yielded feedback on the equity strategies found in the literature and the communication of that information. A synthesis of the findings from both surveys suggested that to fully integrate equity in planning, WSDOT’s community engagement efforts should
- separate community engagement from individual projects
- ensure that engagement is cyclical by reporting back to communities
- focus on building community relationships in-house
- hold events at times and places familiar to communities and with necessary materials
- compensate community members and local organizations.
The researchers supported their development of a framework for incorporating equity into WSDOT planning efforts with geospatial analysis. Recommendations for the application of GIS tools in equity analyses included erring on the side of inclusion at the resolution that most equity screening tools offer and always seeking more localized data and analyses when possible.
Report: WA-RD 938.1
Authors:
Elyse O. Lewis
Bethany M. Gordon
UW Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Sponsor: WSDOT
WSDOT Technical Monitor: Faris Al-Memar
WSDOT Project Manager: Jon Peterson