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Pages 2-10

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From page 2...
... Introduction T he Black Lives Matter movement and other events in 2020 and 2021 have made it clear that the United States continues to struggle with racism. Racism manifests in different ways, from the biased attitudes and discriminatory behaviors of individuals to the policies, practices, and norms of institutions and society that have created and maintained racial inequalities.
From page 3...
... racial equity addendum to critical issues in transportation 3 and implications. Still, a brief document of this type cannot possibly offer the complete and nuanced treatment that is warranted.
From page 4...
... often spurred by transportation investments, have likewise disrupted and displaced many people of color. As the transportation industry contemplates its future infrastructure investments, there is a growing recognition that past mistakes and the damage they have caused must not be repeated.
From page 5...
... racial equity addendum to critical issues in transportation 5 depend on automobiles for access to employment, education, health care, and groceries remains fertile ground for research, particularly with regard to the importance of car ownership.13,14 More granular research, for example, can be valuable for understanding the importance of having access to an automobile to seek and retain employment. It could also further understanding of the importance of automobile access to achieving higher earnings under different conditions, such as central city, suburban, and rural locations and when accompanied by other forms of transportation such as transit and shared modes of transportation.
From page 6...
... trb | transportation research board6 Access to Public Transit Public transit service is a necessity for many workers to reach their jobs, including those who provide essential services for relatively low pay, who are disproportionately Blacks and other people of color.24 For example, workers who were classified as essential at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic comprised more than one-third of all U.S. public transit riders and were disproportionately people of color.25,26 Given the evident role of public transit in providing lower-income households with access, research that examines ways to increase the use and offerings of transit service can be important for informing public policy.
From page 7...
... racial equity addendum to critical issues in transportation 7 alone,36 but their planning and implementation have largely been the responsibility of these institutions.37,38 Curbing racism in the decisionmaking processes and power structures across all levels of government is essential to equitable transportation planning and investment choices, and understanding racial bias in transportation institutions is a critical step. Ensuring equitable decisions can be complicated by the many entities involved in planning and designing transportation investments, particularly for those projects that cross jurisdictional boundaries.
From page 8...
... trb | transportation research board8 a potentially useful area for research on equityrelevant data, metrics, and analytic tools.45 During the 1990s, transportation planning processes became the subject of environmental justice interests. The federal government defines environmental justice as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.46 A long-standing concern to proponents of environmental justice is that such involvement and outreach often does not begin until after many key plans and decisions have already been made.47 Indeed, a body of research suggests that public involvement processes used to date for communities of color (especially those that are low-income)
From page 9...
... racial equity addendum to critical issues in transportation 9 and housing in many regions is regularly most pronounced for people of color.51,52,53,54 Regions are challenged to find ways to address the jobs– housing balance across their geographic spans beyond trying to provide affordable housing in jobs-rich neighborhoods, which can be difficult to accomplish politically and economically.55 Research can play a role in identifying solutions. Public transit can be a solution, having demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic how it can be a lifeline to employment, especially for lowerincome people and people of color.
From page 10...
... trb | transportation research board10 communities of color caused by transportation infrastructure. While possible strategies include measures such as capping freeways or downgrading them to boulevards, the potential for community displacement from redevelopment and gentrification will need to be better understood for equity to be ensured.64,65 Native American Transportation Equity Issues Native American lands and communities often face restricted mobility, isolation, and underdeveloped infrastructure including roads, bridges, aviation, Internet connectivity, and electricity.

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