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