EVALUATING TRANSPORTATION EQUITY

TLDR

Transportation enables access to goods, services, and places of residence, work, and education, and the opportunities it provides influence equity. The paper defines transportation equity and proposes ways to better incorporate fairness into transportation decisions. The authors describe horizontal and vertical equity (by class, income, and mobility need) and examine how automobile user charges, transit funding, and traffic management decisions affect equity.

Abstract

This paper defines and describes the concept of transportation equity. Transportation gives people the opportunity to access goods, activities and services that provide benefits, and also helps determine where people can live, work, shop, or go to school. Transportation is about opportunity, and opportunity affects equity. Three types of equity are described: horizontal equity (fairness); vertical equity with regard to social class and income; and vertical equity with regard to mobility need and ability. Ways that fairness can be better incorporated into transportation decisions are suggested. Automobile user charges, transit funding and traffic management are discussed in reference to how specific decisions can have equity implications.