Role of Community Transportation in Promoting Social Inclusion

Presented by:

David Raphael, Regional Ambassador,Community Transportation Association of America

CTAA’s EXPO 2008

Social Exclusion Forum

New Orleans, Louisiana

June 5, 2008

• Struggle to Define Lack of Mobility in US• Advocacy Depends on Powerful Words

• Poverty, Jobless, Homeless

• Mobility Advocates Have Poor Alternative• Transportation Disadvantaged• Transit Dependent• Mobility Impaired

• Political Impact Requires Shaper Tools

If You Can’t Name It . . .

• Borrowed Name and Launched CTAA• Broadened Focus

• International/global perspective• Comprehensive approach -- rural,

elderly poor, youth & disabled

• Raised national awareness of “unpublic”

• Built effective nationwide network

Community Transportation Introduced to the US in 1987

• Logical next step in evolving strategy• Provides framework for examining

isolation• Context for developing “inclusive”

policies• Increases allies• Needs fertilization -- exchanges

between practitioners & researchers in the US, Canada & the UK

Social Exclusion:A Timely & Useful Concept

• Reconnecting citizens to social & economic life of the community

• Enhancing participation in education, employment, public services & social activities

• Overcoming individual & community isolation

• Assuring full participation in civic life

What is Social Inclusion?

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)• Civil Rights & Environmental Justice• Community Impact Assessments• Rural Equity• Welfare to Work• Health Disparities

Fragmented US Policy

• Health Disparities• Minorities, elderly, low income families,

rural residents, other disadvantaged groups

• Inequities include poor health status, medical outcomes, life expectancy, etc.

• Low Birth-weight• High infant mortality• Urban and rural issue• Preventable

Measures of Social Exclusion

• Educational Achievement• High drop out rates• Post secondary and vocational training

• Access to Jobs• Spatial mismatch• Carless households

Measures of Social Exclusion

• Rural Equity• Access to health care• Commute distances• Standard of living

• Minority Status• Income disparities• Social mobility• Environmental injustice

Measures of Social Exclusion

Building a Social Inclusion Building a Social Inclusion Agenda in the USAgenda in the US

• Expand research on mobility & social exclusion

• TRB & TCRP• University Transportation Centers

• Collaboration & coalition building• Advocate for inclusive strategies

• Transportation & land use policies• Establish measures of social exclusion• Work with new Administration

Guide to ResourcesGuide to Resources

CTAAwww.ctaa.org 800.527.8279

Surface Transportation Policy Project: ”Transportation & Social Equity” www.transact.org/library/factsheets/equity.asp

Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark University: www.ejrc.cau.edu

Sustrans: ”Towards Transport Justice”www.sustrans.org.uk

More ResourcesMore Resources

The Civil Rights Project, Harvard University: www.civilrightsproject.harvard.edu

Federal Highway Administration’s Community Impact Assessment website: www.ciatrans.net

National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities: http://ncmhd.nih.gov/

“Eliminating Health Disparities”, Report by the Health Resources & Services Administration, US Dept of Health & Human Services: www.hrsa.gov/OMH/OMH/disparities

More ResourcesMore Resources

Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality, DHHS: “National Healthcare Disparities Report”www.ahrq.gov/news/nhdrfact.htm

US Department of Transportation: Environmental Justice: www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/ej2.htm

US Environmental Protection Agency: Environmental Justice: www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice