"Transportation, at its core, is about more than concrete, asphalt and steel – it is about people and their access to work, school, loved one’s, and nature’s bounty.”– U.S. Department of Transportation, 2000 Strategic Plan
What is transportation equity?The concept of transportation equity seeks to ensure that the needs of all communities, particularly low-income and minority communities, are addressed in transportation policy and the transportation planning process. Additionally, transportation investments should work to ensure that both the benefits and impacts are distributed equally.
Simply put, transportation equity is about working to make a transportation system that allows everyone – regardless of race, class, gender, age, or ability - to be able to access good jobs, education, health care, places of worship, stores, and other needed services, whether or not they have a car.
The poorest fifth of Americans spend 42% of their annual household budget on the purchase, operation, and maintenance of automobiles. That is more than twice as much as the national average.1 |
Why is this important?The quality of available transportation affects people’s opportunities and quality of life. For example, the average American household devotes 18 cents out of every dollar it spends to getting around. In the Baltimore region, households spend more on transportation than on any other expense (education, health care, food, and insurance) except shelter.2 These high transportation costs compromise household savings that could otherwise be used for home ownership, education, or other investments that give low income families a better chance of moving into the middle class.
Access to transportation determines where people can live, work, shop, learn, and socialize. It influences the kinds of opportunities each of us has. By improving equity in transportation, we both increase opportunity, as well as improve quality of life for individuals and communities.
Learn more…
For more information:
Monica Haines, mhaines@baltometro.org or 410-732-0500 x1047.
Sources:
1 Surface Transportation Policy Project
2 Driven to Spend, Surface Transportation Policy Project
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Last Updated ( Friday, 05 December 2008 )
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