Everyone deserves to have a safe experience on the road, whether walking, cycling or driving. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Many underserved communities experience traffic fatalities at a higher rate than their more advantaged counterparts, due to issues like inadequate road design, limited public transportation and outdated or nonexistent safety infrastructure. In fact, individuals living in the lowest-income areas are 3.3 times more likely to die in a crash than those on the other end of the spectrum — and Black pedestrians die at a rate almost two times higher than pedestrians that are white (Smart Growth America).
For years, low-income and Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities have been left behind when it comes to planning and funding — along with vulnerable road users, seniors, children and people with disabilities — leading to many cases of drastic disparities. As we continue to collectively work toward a future of zero deaths, a key piece of the conversation should include prioritizing equitable access for everyone on our roads.
What is Transportation Equity?
When it comes to transportation, equity strives to provide fair and accessible mobility opportunities that meet the needs of all community members. This means creating transportation systems that are inclusive, ensuring everyone has safe and reliable options, regardless of where they live. By addressing systemic disparities, the goal of transportation equity is to not just give these communities equal treatment, but to understand that not all roadways are created equally — meaning disadvantaged areas often need additional resources to fully overcome the barriers they face.
How Can We Improve Equity in Transportation?
To ensure that our transportation systems serve all communities fairly, it’s vital to assess which areas are underserved to address their specific challenges and repair the damages caused by years of under-investing and simply being left out of the conversation. By considering transportation equity as an equally important factor in the path to reducing traffic fatalities, it’s possible to ensure these communities are not further left behind, but instead, receive the same opportunities to live and travel safely.
Whether you’re just beginning to consider equity in your transportation plans or are brand-new to the concept, these strategies can provide a strong foundation for creating a fair, inclusive transportation system in your community.
1. Increase Access to Public Transportation
The infrastructure of U.S. roadways has made us heavily reliant on vehicles — yet around 30% of Americans do not have a driver’s license (USA Today). While access to reliable transportation leads to improved quality of life, the only options for many low-income households are walking or taking public transportation. And with cities all across the U.S. labeled as transit deserts, this has left these historically underserved communities without access to reliable transportation, forcing them to walk wherever they need to go — despite the poor walking infrastructure that exists in these areas.
Expanding transportation access to all communities (especially to those who rely on it the most) can help bridge the gap when it comes to equitable access. Expanding transit routes, increasing the frequency of service and prioritizing affordability can make a significant difference, giving individuals better connections to job opportunities, healthcare and other essential services.
2. Rethink Roadway Design
The design of our roads heavily influences how we drive on them, even more so than the posted speed limits. U.S. roadways are designed to move vehicles as quick as possible, rather than as safe as possible. This is particularly evident in the design of arterial roads — roads where 67% of pedestrian deaths take place, despite only making up 15% of all urban roadways (Smart Growth America). Arterial roads are also more likely to run through low-income neighborhoods, making those who rely on walking vulnerable to higher risks of traffic-related injuries and fatalities.
Approaches like Complete Streets consider the needs of all road users by implementing crosswalks, sidewalks, bike lanes and transit stops, creating a more accessible system. By focusing on the diverse needs of disadvantaged groups, it’s possible to design our streets in a way that prioritizes safety and accommodates everyone — not just vehicles. Additionally, recent changes in the MUTCD’s 11th edition include a shift in the 85th percentile rule, which has often encouraged higher speeds in urban settings. Now that the 85th percentile rule should not be used on urban and suburban arterials and should instead consider other factors, opening up the possibility for slower streets in these neighborhoods.
3. Implement Better Safety Infrastructure
BIPOC and low-income communities are historically underfunded, often leading to a lack of sufficient traffic signage, pedestrian infrastructure and lighting — all of which can increase pedestrian safety. When combined with a disproportionate number of roads that are proven to be more dangerous than others, infrastructure disparities can make these areas even more difficult to travel on foot for their residents.
Focusing on and investing in neighborhoods with such drastic infrastructure gaps is essential to addressing the systemic inequities and can help increase accessibility and walkability in these communities that are so reliant on active transportation. However, installing more safety infrastructure should not be considered a standalone solution, and rather should accompany other strategies in an overarching approach to improve transportation equity.
4. Engage Community Members
Every community is different. So, what better way to understand the needs of a certain neighborhood than to get in touch with its community members? Overburdened communities have been left out of the conversation for too long, with many decisions to build highways and arterials even leading to the destruction or disconnection of once-in-tact neighborhoods (Governing).
Future transportation planning decisions should involve community members in initiatives directly impacting their neighborhood. This gives officials the opportunity to gain insight into the community’s unique challenges and gather feedback to better understand how they can effectively address traffic safety issues. Engaging with residents and giving them a voice in decision-making can empower underserved communities and help officials build a relationship over time. Engagement opportunities might include:
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Meetings with underrepresented communities
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Surveys or questionnaires about their neighborhood
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Regular updates on upcoming safety projects
5. Prioritize Funding in Marginalized Communities
Over the years, inequity in transportation has stemmed from a failure to invest. Being overlooked and underfunded has led to underserved communities experiencing inadequate infrastructure, a lack of safe and reliable transportation and higher rates of traffic violence — along with negative economic and environmental impacts. And until these communities begin to receive the necessary resources, it will remain difficult for residents to live and travel safety, making it challenging to feel like a valued member in society.
Prioritizing funding to underserved communities does not just mean allocating equal resources — in some cases, it might even mean allocating more. Due to such drastic disparities developing over time, bringing underserved neighborhoods to the same level as their more advantaged counterparts may require a higher level of funding and resources. Funding programs like the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Program are designed to provide funding for projects improving access and community in overburdened neighborhoods, especially ones disproportionately affected by the construction of highways and arterial roads. Additionally, other funding programs like Safe Streets and Roads For All (SS4A) support the funding and implementation of Safety Action Plans, which can be leveraged to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries in these communities.
6. Collect Better Data
Data has shown us that throughout the U.S., low-income and BIPOC neighborhoods are affected by traffic violence at a disproportionate rate. However, crash data does not always tell the full story. Crash incidents can go unreported. Street design and conditions can affect how drivers behave. Policies can be a poor fit for the needs of certain communities. To fully understand how to effectively address issues within overburdened communities, a more comprehensive approach to data can help.
Collecting data via community input, less traditional sources (such as health centers) and monitoring technology, as well as understanding the environment, can help paint a full picture of the transportation challenges communities face. Additionally, Vision Zero advocates for the use of data to improve equity and shares effective strategies on how to utilize data to its full potential.
Ultimately, prioritizing equity in transportation should be an essential part of each community’s strategy. By ensuring everyone has access to safe, reliable transportation, it’s possible to work toward a future of zero traffic fatalities. Wondering how you can invest in equitable strategies? Our team of experts can assist with any questions you might have.