CUTR Webcast Recording: Integrating Equity into Regional Transportation Planning

April 27, 2017, 12:00PM (ET)

Integrating Equity into Regional Transportation Planning

This webinar explores methods used by MPOs to understand the equity effects of regional transportation plans and investments, based on research conducted for the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC). The webinar will examine how MPOs are identifying communities of concern with regard to transportation equity, along with techniques used in evaluating accessibility to jobs and services, modal options, distributional equity of investments, and other equity considerations. The webinar includes case studies of equity methods being applied in two distinctly different regions that participated in the research effort: 1) Hillsborough County, (Tampa) Florida: a lower density, sprawling, auto dependent area with limited public transportation; and 2) Portland, Oregon: a higher density, compact urban area with a variety of travel options and a strong urban growth management system. The two MPOs are at different stages of addressing transportation equity in their planning and public engagement activities. Transportation planners from each of these MPOs will discuss the development and application of their equity analysis methods and how attention to equity is being integrated into the regional planning process in their respective regions.

Presenters: Kristine Williams, AICP, Program Director of Planning and Corridor Management with the Center for Urban Transportation Research; Wade Reynolds, AICP, Community Planner with the Hillsborough MPO; and Grace Cho, AICP, Transportation Planner with Oregon Metro

Kristine Williams is Program Director of Planning and Corridor Management research at CUTR. Ms. Williams is co-Principal Investigator of the study for the National Institute for Transportation and Communities entitled “Evaluating the Distributional Effects of Regional Transportation Plans and Projects”. Her research focuses on access management, multimodal transportation planning, equity, and public involvement.

Wade Reynolds, AICP is a Community Planner with the Hillsborough County MPO with focuses on planning for health, equity, and bicycle and pedestrian issues.

Grace Cho, AICP is a transportation planner at Metro, the metropolitan planning organization for the Portland, Oregon region. She works on air quality and environmental justice issues for the MPO programs.

Aaron Golub, PhD (panelist) is associate professor in the Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning at Portland State University. Dr. Golub is co-Principal Investigator of the NITC study “Evaluating the Distributional Effects of Regional Transportation Plans and Projects” and specializes in social equity.