In 2020, at the request of the Association of Washington Cities (AWC), the Washington State Legislature commissioned a study of transportation equity in Washington’s cities and towns. To recognize the inequitable distribution of transportation investments across the state, both currently and historically, AWC sought to investigate the impacts that these choices have on our city populations and provide a resource to cities for generating more equitable outcomes for users of the statewide transportation system.
The primary objectives of the study were to:
- Educate city and state officials on the impacts of current and historic city transportation investments on designated populations including communities of color, low-income households, vulnerable populations, and displaced communities.
- Describe tools and methods that individual cities and towns can use to assess transportation equity in their own jurisdictions.
- Provide recommendations on tools and best practices that cities and towns can use to improve, diversify, and expand city transportation investments leading to more equitable distribution of transportation benefits and impacts.
Funded by the city share of the state gas tax, the study was conducted by consultant Toole Design, which presented its final report to the transportation committees of the legislature last December. With AWC’s assistance, Toole convened a workgroup of city representatives from across Washington to participate in the study. The group included representatives from the cities of Spokane, Twisp, Yakima, Port Townsend, and Tacoma, who met several times over the summer of 2022 to discuss transportation equity issues in their communities and throughout the state and to provide input to Toole’s researchers for incorporation in the study.
Expert analysis
With the recent publication of the final report, AWC reached out to Toole’s Research Practice Lead, Stefanie Brodie, to ask her to talk about the study outcomes and how cities can begin to implement its findings and recommendations.
AWC: What are the primary takeaways that cities should be aware of from the study?
SB: Across Washington state, cities are at different stages of their journey toward equity and transportation justice. The study recognized these differences, and the final report details recommendations for cities across these stages. Some key, foundational recommendations that cities can take away are:
- Understand how past policies and plans have harmed populations that have historically been and are currently marginalized (useful background can be found in the Racism in Existing Policies and Practices chapter of the report).
- Examine your journey towards transportation equity and justice conceptually (using the progression framework in the report) and quantitatively (using the catalog of tools in the report).
- Use data analysis as a resource. Acknowledge limitations and address gaps in analysis methods (some are detailed in the Transportation Equity Assessment Tools and Methods chapter of the report) and elevate qualitative data in analysis (outreach and engagement recommendations are included in the report).
- Work across sectors and disciplines to find solutions to cross-cutting equity issues.
AWC: What do you view as the principal challenges facing Washington’s cities in addressing equity in transportation?
SB: Operationalizing equity goals and plans is a common challenge because equity is contextual, and an agency’s journey toward equity and transportation justice will be unique and cannot be prescribed. Moving from equity in word to equity in practice requires deliberate and focused actions. These actions can be directed by an equity framework that guides decision-making and establishes policies and mandates. Operationalizing equity also requires systems of accountability and funding for implementation; a principal challenge because it is the key to realizing changes in the system and more equitable outcomes.
AWC: What are some actionable steps you recommend for cities starting to examine their approach to equity in transportation?
SB: Cities starting this work can begin with identifying communities and neighborhoods that are experiencing disparate transportation impacts and the extent of these impacts. It sets a baseline and can be used to direct planning efforts and investments to rectify the disparities. There is a discussion on equity-seeking communities in the report chapter Impact of Transportation Investment Patterns on Designated Populations, and several tools have been developed to geographically identify designated populations (some are in the catalog of tools in the report).
Just as important as identifying communities is understanding the impacts of the transportation system they experience. Engagement efforts should be used to understand how equity-seeking communities are experiencing the transportation system and what their needs are. Additionally, many cities evaluate key performance indicators of the transportation system. These metrics can be evaluated across various communities to quantify disparities in access, safety, and other transportation system outcomes.
AWC: How do you envision small or rural cities, with limited staff and resources, using the report and toolkit?
SB: Both large and small cities have resource and expertise limitations; however, there are also challenges for rural cities because their mobility challenges can differ from those of urban or suburban areas. The report and toolkit are not prescriptive and provide recommendations that can be applied by cities with many different contexts. The tools in the catalog also range in resource intensity. For example, some provide examples of methods a city could use to develop a tool of its own, and there are tools that host census data and have mapping capabilities so they can be used “off the shelf.” Cities could also substitute some current engagement practices for those recommended in the report. At a minimum, the report can be used to inform and educate staff, encourage staff to find ways to incorporate equity into their daily work, and initiate culture shifts for the agency.
AWC: What should cities do to ensure sustainability in their transportation policies and practices?
SB: Institutionalizing an equity framework can help sustain practices and policies that advance equity. Integrating equity-related efforts into budgets not only advances implementation but also establishes equity as an indelible priority.
Institutionalizing an equity framework can help sustain practices and policies that advance equity. Integrating equity-related efforts into budgets not only advances implementation but also establishes equity as an indelible priority.
AWC: Any final thoughts you’d like to share?
SB: One part of the report that I hope is not overlooked is the practitioner interviews. There are conversations with staff and officials from cities across the state and representatives from organizations working on transportation equity that are both enlightening and encouraging (summarized in the Engagement with Practitioners and Staff Workgroup chapter). The discussions informed the recommendations, but the summaries and even direct responses are included in the report.
No matter where a city is on its journey of acknowledging, assessing, and addressing transportation inequities, keep going. Ultimately, understanding and addressing equity is a process that will evolve and expand over time, requiring commitment and collaboration from many. Each person and each step advance the effort.
The Transportation Equity in Washington Cities study is available on the Joint Transportation Committee website. It consists of three parts: