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Integrating Equity Into MPO Project Prioritization

Yaye Keita, PhD

June 20th, 2019

Research Need and Importance

Transportation planning processes and investments affect opportunity

Need to consider social equity in investment decisions

MPOs will benefit from guidance on best practice methods

Source: http://www.reconnectrondo.com/transportation‐justice/

Source: https://sdotblog.seattle.gov/2018/01/16/connecting‐communities‐through‐transportation‐equity/

Source: https://www.denverpost.com/2019/04/02/denver‐department‐transportation‐infrastructure‐november‐ballot/

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Research Objectives

Document methods used by MPOs for 

prioritizing projects in relation to  equity

Identify national MPO best practices, with an emphasis on access to 

opportunity

Prepare resource guide for MPOs, including 

methods and examples

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Methods of Project Prioritization 

Scenario analysis, GIS and modeling 

Scoring and weighting

Holistic qualitative review 

Relative investment in EJ Areas overall and/or by project type

Relative contribution to equity performance measures and targets

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Source: https://www.planning.dot.gov/documents/RTPO_factsheet_Master.pdf

Source: https://www.cmap.illinois.gov/data/transportation/travel‐survey

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Relative Investment in Underserved Areas

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Madison Area Transportation BoardProgram

Project Prioritization by Mode and Project Type

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Atlanta Regional Council (ARC) Madison Area Transportation Board 

Program/TIP Program/TIP

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Scoring by Multiple FactorsMerit Category‐ Equity (Program/TIP) Possible

Points

Environmental Justice (2 points)Project is within an EJ area and has a primary purpose or significant focus on transit,bicycling, walking, or carpool.

2

Project is within an EJ area and maintains existing infrastructure, with a primary purposeor significant focus on automobiles. Included are most highway resurfacing, trafficoperations improvement, bridge deck repair, and preservation and rehabilitation typeprojects.

1

Project excludes EJ areas and maintains existing infrastructure, with a primary purpose orsignificant focus on automobiles. Included are most highway resurfacing, traffic operationsimprovement, bridge deck repair, and preservation and rehabilitation type projects.

0

Project is either A) within an EJ area and is new construction, vehicle capacityimprovements, or reconstruction projects which add auto capacity or B) excludes EJ areasand has a primary purpose or significant focus on transit, bicycling, walking, or carpool.

‐1

Accessibility/ADA/Universal Design/Human Services Transport (2 pts)

Project's primary purpose is to upgrade accessible features, introduce newaccessible features, or remove barriers to universal access and is in an areaidentified as a high priority for access improvement/compliance in an ADATransition Plan. Alternatively, project's primary purpose is improved operation orcoordination of human services transport.

2

Project includes the addition or upgrade of accessibility features such asupgrading or adding ADA curb ramps, audio‐visual signals, etc.

1

Project has neutral affect (no known impact, positive or negative) onaccessibility/ADA/universal design/human services transport.

0

Project removes an accessible element without replacing or upgrading, adds features(s)which impede universal access, or otherwise compromises accessibility. Alternatively,project impedes operation or coordination of human services transport.

‐1

Albany Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC)

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Equity PerformanceMeasures

Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)

8Plan

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Performance Based Methods

Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)

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• Strong support (1)• Moderate support (0.5)• Minimal impact (0)• Moderate adverse (‐0.5)• Strong adverse (‐1)

General Plan and Program Evaluation Based on Equity

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Fund Committed % of Funds % of Population

$ 258,381,055 56.0% 32.3% Inside Target Area

$ 203,091,404 44.0% 67.7% Outside Target Area

$ 461,472,459 100.0%

Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG), Connecticut 

MTC and ABAG

Plan

Program

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Holistic, Qualitative Methods

Forward Pinellas• Evaluates projects through the “lens of connectivity and accessibility” 

• Targets public outreach to EJ areas to understand needs

• Has a complete streets program

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Plan

Public Involvement

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• Identify needs of community• Determine benefits and impacts of projects• Identify and include projects supported by 

the community in the program

Polk County Mobility Audits

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Sarasota/Manatee MPOPrioritizing Equity and Accessibility

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Sarasota/Manatee MPO

• 2018 Population: 821,573• Two counties• Nine cities and towns• One airport• One seaport

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National GoalsMAP-21 (2012)Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act

FAST Act (2015)Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act

Invest resources in projects

to achieve individual targets

that collectively

will make progress

toward national goals.

MAP 21 NATIONALPERFORMANCE GOALS

FEDERALLY MANDATEDPERFORMANCE MEASURES

SAFETY

Number of fatalitiesRate of fatalitiesNumber of serious injuriesRate of serious injuriesNumber of non-motorized fatalities and non-motorized serious injuries

INFRASTRUCTURE CONDITION

% NHS bridges by deck area in good condition% NHS bridges by deck area in poor condition% Interstate pavements in good condition % Interstate pavements in poor condition % non-Interstate NHS pavements in good condition % non-Interstate NHS pavements in poor condition

CONGESTION REDUCTION% Reliable person-miles traveled on Interstate% Reliable person-miles traveled on non-Interstate NHSAnnual hours of peak hour excessive delay per capita% Non-single occupancy vehicle travel

SYSTEM RELIABILITY

FREIGHT MOVEMENT AND ECONOMIC VITALITY% Interstate system mileage providing for reliable truck travel time (Truck Travel Time Reliability Index)

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Maintain National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

REDUCED PROJECT DELIVERY DELAYS

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ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICEEnvironment/Livability

Improve environmental sustainability and community livability in coordination with local government comprehensive plans

"Where we live, work, and play impacts our health, and how we move within and between our communities is critical to improving quality of life and access to opportunity."Source: American Public Health Association

Sarasota/Manatee MPO

MAP 21 NATIONALPERFORMANCE GOALS

SARASOTA/MANATEE MPO2040 LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN GOALS

SAFETY Safety/SecurityImprove the safety and security of the transportation system for all users

INFRASTRUCTURE CONDITIONInfrastructure Condition

Improve management, operations, and coordination to promote an efficient transportation system locally and regionally

CONGESTION REDUCTION Mobility/Congestion/ReliabilityPromote economic vitality and viability through regional coordination

of intermodal systemSYSTEM RELIABILITY

FREIGHT MOVEMENT/ECONOMIC VITALITYEconomy/Freight

Improve accessibility and multimodal connectivity by promoting proximity to jobs and efficient movement of freight and goods

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITYEnvironment/Livability

Improve environmental sustainability and community livability in coordination with local government comprehensive plans

REDUCED PROJECT DELIVERY DELAYSProject Delivery

Allocate funds to projects that enhance regional mobility …continuing to support multimodal accessibility and congestion management…

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Partners: Manatee and Sarasota Health Departments

Asset LimitedIncome ConstrainedEmployed

ALICE

Partner: United Way

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14%

32%54%

Percentage of Florida households

Poverty

ALICEAbove ALICE threshold

• Housing – below average size and cost including utilities

• Childcare – the cheapest legal home-based childcare

• Food – careful purchasing and preparation with no eating out

• Transportation – Gas, insurance and basic maintenance only

• Healthcare – basic out-of-pocket costs with no insurance premiums and ACA penalty

• Miscellaneous – minor cost overruns & other essentials

• Taxes – Social Security, Medicare, income taxes and credits

Partner: United Way

Safety/Security

Vulnerable Users• Project addresses high/medium/low

number of non-motorized (bike/ped) crashes (4 points max)

• Project includes new pedestrian crossings or bike lanes in high or medium-high non-motorized crash location (2 points)

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Infrastructure Condition

Bridge Policy

• Bridge projects include bike/ped facilities• Major bridge projects include 10-12 ft for emergency

vehicles and future bus-on-shoulder

Mobility/Congestion/Reliability

Complete Streets • Project includes Complete Streets

construction or improvements -trails/sidewalks/bicycle facilities (6 points max)

Alternative Transit Service • Project connects to transit –

on/intersects/within ¼ mile of transit route (3 points max)

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Daily Truck Traffic

Economy/Freight

Economic Development • Project located within an

established community redevelopment area, brownfield, enterprise zone, or other locally established special district (3 points)

Environment/Livability

Transit Service • Project improves access to transit in low-income or minority

communities (2 points)

• Project addresses ADA compliance issues through retrofit at transit stops (1 point)

• Project includes transit shelters at priority stops (1 point)

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Environment/LivabilityMultimodal Livability • Project improves access to affordable housing (2 points)

• Project is located within designated infill development area (1 point)

Social Justice• Multimodal project provides improved access for low-income or

minority communities (2 points)

Environment/LivabilityTransportation Affordability• Multimodal project

located within gap area on 30-minute accessibility maps (2 points)

• Multimodal project located within ½ mile of qualified food, medical, or education facility (1 point)

ESSENTIAL SERVICES:Grocery StoresShopping CentersPharmaciesHospital/MedicalLibrariesBanksEducational FacilitiesGovernment CentersParks

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Project Delivery

Increase the accessibility and mobility options available to ^ peopleALL

MAP 21 NATIONALPERFORMANCE GOALS

SARASOTA/MANATEE MPO2045 LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOCUS

SAFETY

INFRASTRUCTURE CONDITION

CONGESTION REDUCTION

SYSTEM RELIABILITY

FREIGHT MOVEMENT/ECONOMIC VITALITY

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

REDUCED PROJECT DELIVERY DELAYS

SAFETY/SECURITY/PREPAREDNESS

BRIDGES/INFRASTRUCTURE/RESILIENCY

MOBILITY/CONGESTION/RELIABILITY

TECHNOLOGY/AUTONOMYECONOMY/TOURISM/FREIGHT

EQUITY/LIVABILITYENVIRONMENT/CONSERVATION

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Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization

Integrating Equity into MPO Project Prioritization

June 20, 2019

Betsy Harvey

Transportation Equity Program Manager

Outline

• Boston Region MPO goal areas

• About the MPO’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

• Current transportation equity (TE) project selection criteria for the TIP

• Possible updates to project evaluation criteria

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TIP Project Evaluation Revision Timeline

• Summer 2019: Complete Long-Range Transportation Plan

• Summer and fall 2019: Review and revise project selection criteria for the TIP

• Fall 2019 and winter 2020: Implement revised project selection criteria

Boston Region MPO Goal Areas

Transportation EquityEnsure that all people receive comparable benefits from, and are not disproportionately burdened by MPO investments, regardless of race, color, national origin, age, income, ability, or sex

System Preservation Maintain and modernize the transportation system and plan for itsresiliency

Clean Air/Sustainable Communities

Create an environmentally-friendly transportation system

Capacity Management/Mobility

Use facility capacity more efficiently and increase transportation options

Economic Vitality Ensure our transportation network provides for economic vitality

Safety Transportation by all modes will be safe

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TIP Project Evaluation Criteria:About the TIP

• Evaluate 8–10 new projects each year

• Around 12 new projects programmed each year

• Investment Programso Complete Streets

o Intersection improvements

o Bicycle/pedestrian connections

o Major infrastructure

o Community Connections

o Transit modernization (new)

GOALS CRITERIA

Safety

System Preservation

Capacity Management/Mobility

Clean Air/Sustainable Communities

Economic Vitality

Transportation Equity (TE) Serves equity populations:• Minority population• Low-income population• People with limited

English proficiency• People with disabilities• Elderly• Carless households

9%

21%

12%

21%

23%

14%

Percent of all Criteria

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TIP Project Evaluation Criteria:Current Equity Criteria

• For each TE population:o Project gets points if

population in project area exceeds the regional average

o 1 point: Population is less than 1,000 or 2,000 people or households (depending on the TE population)

o 2 points: Population is greater than 1,000 or 2,000 people or households

Population in Project Area

Elderly Population

Elderly Population Share

Elderly Population Regional Average

11,000 1,100 10.0% 6.7%

Result: Exceeds regional average? Yes—1 point Exceeds 1,000 people? Yes—1 point Total score: 2 points

TIP Project Evaluation Criteria:Key Questions

• How do you identify the TE populations affected by each project?

• Which criteria best capture the MPO’s goals and objectives?

• What data analysis tools are available to you?

• How can we weight the equity criteria against the other criteria?

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TIP Project Evaluation Criteria:Possible Revisions

• Assess impacts related to each goal area

• Refine definition of what a “burden” is

• Greater weighting toward equity

• Assign points to projects that benefit:o Schools

o Low-income housing residents

o Senior housing residents

TIP Project Evaluation Criteria:Engagement and Outreach

• Opportunity to engage publico Which goal areas are the most important?

o What criteria will help the MPO meet its TE goal?

o How should the TE goal be weighed against the other goal areas?

• Ongoing MPO board discussions about priorities

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Takeaways

• Establish MPO’s equity goals and priorities

• Identify criteria that are measurable and help achieve equity goals

• Continuously gather feedback from MPO board and the public; make TIP criteria relevant by responding to their interests

Questions?

Betsy Harveyeharvey@ctps.org

857.702.3701