Designing Healthy and Equitable Communities

Joshua Tree

Bob AllenDirector of Policy & Advocacy Campaigns

Transportation Justice and Equitable Communities

Goals• Provide an overview of the

transportation justice framework

• Apply that framework to the intersection of transportation (planning, funding and decision-making) and public health

• Highlight TJ campaigns

Just Transportation SystemHas Two Elements:• All communities equally benefit, and no

single community is disproportionately burdened by it.

• Increases access to opportunity particularly for those communities that have historically been denied such opportunity.

Components of Transportation JusticeAvailabilityReliability

AffordabilityHealth & Safety

Language & Physical AccessEqual Amenities

Environmental ImpactsSupport the Just Transition Framework

Jobs and Economic Development

1990s…..“Smart Growth and New Urbanism”

Or Same Old Urban Renewal?

The Gentrification (of Mass Transit)

Source: “Privatized busing comes to San Francisco”http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/4/privatized-busing-comes-to-san-francisco.html

Cars as the solution to the problem of too many…cars?

“LA Metro ridership down 14% between 2009 - 2017”

The geometry of equity (and health)

The geometry of equity (and health)

Current Advocacy & Organizing Models

• Grassroots Organizing • Policy Advocacy• Legal Tools

MUNI Bus Only (Red) Lanes Project

• MUNI Ridership: 80% Low-Income and People of Color• Mission St. 2nd highest ridership corridor (67,000 daily

riders) • MUNI’s highest collision corridor, with an average of

three Muni-related collisions a week• Neighborhood at the heart of anti-gentrification fight

MUNI Bus Only (Red) Lanes Project

Project Goals:

• Improve safety on Mission Street• Improve reliability and travel time

of Mission Street bus routes for the 67,000 daily riders

• Improve access via Muni for local residents to get to work, school, appointments, or shopping

• Balance the needs of all people using Mission Street

You get the system you fund..

San Mateo County Transportation Measure W

$80 million annually (a total of $2.4 billion over 30 years) to: • improve transportation county-

wide • significant increase in

investment to meet the needs of underserved communities, reduce transportation barriers, and increase access to transit

San Mateo County Transportation Measure W

• 50% ($1.2 billion) for local and countywide public transit including maintaining enhancing bus, paratransit, rail and other discount pass programs for youth, seniors, people with disabilities and low-wage workers

• 10% ($240 million) for regional transit improvements such as an express bus network

• 5% ($120 million) for bicycle and pedestrian access and safety

• 12.5% ($300 million) for local road improvements and pothole repairs

• 22.5% ($540 million) for highway and interchange improvements

Thank you

Transformative Climate Communities

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywjy4xgmqxo