1. Who Gets Access?
Transportation Equity from the
National to the Local
Portland, Oregon
April 5, 2011
Radhika Fox, Federal Policy Director
PolicyLink

2. About PolicyLink
PolicyLink is a national research and
action institute advancing economic
and social equity by Lifting Up What
Works®.

3. Unemployment
March 2011:
• National - 8.8%
– Whites - 7.9%
– Blacks - 15.5%
– Hispanics - 11.3%
• Oregon - 10.2%
• Portland - 10%
3

4. Transportation Investment = Jobs
• Every $1 billion invested in public transportation
capital/operations creates or supports:
– 36,000 jobs
– $3.6 billion in business sales
– Nearly $500 million in federal, state and local tax
revenues
(Economic Development Research Group)
• Repair work on roads and bridges generates 16%
more jobs than construction of new roads and
bridges.
(Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Mass.)
4

5. Transportation Inequity
Inadequate Transportation Access and High Costs
Stifle Access to Opportunity
• Transportation is the second largest expense for
households in the United States, costing more than food,
clothing, and health care. (National Complete Streets Coalition)
• Low- and moderate-income households spend 42% of
their total annual income that on transportation, including
those who live in rural areas, as compared to middle-
income households, who spend less than 22% of their
annual income on transportation.
(Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey
2000)

6. Transportation Inequity
Inadequate Transportation Access and High
Costs Stifle Access to Opportunity
• Center for Neighborhood Technology has developed a
baseline for housing affordability – to be affordable a
family should spend no more than 45% on housing
and transportation combined.
In Portland, families spend 59%:
– 31% of income on transportation
– 28% of income spent on housing
(CNT H+T Index from A Heavy Load, Center for Housing Policy 2006)

7. Transportation Inequity
Fewer Economic Opportunities Associated with
Building Our Nation’s Infrastructure
• In the transportation construction industry, only 6%
of employees are African American and 2.5% are
women, far below their shares of the U.S. workforce.
(Bureau of Labor Statistics 2008)

8. Transportation Inequity
Local and Regional Governments Struggle to
Provide Adequate Transportation Options
• More than 80% of the nation’s transit systems are
considering or have recently enacted fare increases
or service cuts, including reductions in rush-hour
service, off-peak service and geographic coverage.
(American Public Transportation Association)

9. Transportation Inequity
Local and Regional Governments Struggle to
Provide Adequate Transportation Options
• Over the past decade, TriMet has raised its fares by
70%.
• In a 2010, TriMet eliminated two bus lines and
reduced the service hours for 10 bus lines.
(OPAL)

10. The Next Transportation Authorization:
Working for Equitable Reform
• Transportation for America is the largest, most diverse coalition
working for a bold new vision for transportation that guarantees
our freedom to move however we choose and leads to a stronger
economy, greater energy security, cleaner environment, and a
healthier America for all of us.
• The Equity Caucus at Transportation for America — formed by the
nation’s leading civil rights, community development, racial justice,
economic justice, faith-based, health, housing, labor,
environmental justice, tribal, public interest, women’s, and
transportation organizations — drives transportation policies that
advance economic and social equity in America. PolicyLink serves
as Chair of the Equity Caucus at Transportation for America.

11. Members of the Equity Caucus at
Transportation for America

12. Equity Caucus Policy Principles
1. Create affordable transportation options for all
people.
2. Ensure fair access to quality jobs, workforce
development, and contracting opportunities in
the transportation industry.
3. Promote healthy, safe, and inclusive
communities.
4. Invest equitably and focus on results.

13. The Next Transportation Authorization:
Time for Transformation?
The Surface Transportation Authorization:
• 6th largest federal expenditure
• Shapes how billions of dollars of transportation
funding are spent in communities across this nation
We have an opportunity – one that arises only
once every 5 to 6 years – to shape this
important piece of legislation.

14. Political Landscape
• Past transportation bills have been bi-partisan
• Big Hurdle – the financing mechanism
• House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has begun
hearings and wants to have a bill ready for House vote by
Memorial Day
• Challenges:
– FY11 Appropriations process has included attacks on transit
and multi-modal transportation programs
• Opportunities
– Exciting policy shifts have started from Administration
absent a bill
• FY12 Budget and Authorization principles with historic
investments in transit and continued investment in
sustainable communities

15. Policy Idea #1
Affordable Transportation Options for All
People
• Preserve and expand resources for biking,
walking, and public transportation
• Give local communities flexibility to use federal
funds to help operate local public transportation
systems

16. Policy Idea #2
Job Access and Job Quality
• Establish a Construction Careers Program
• Create a Youth Transit Jobs Corps
• Expand On the Job Training Program

17. Policy Idea #3
Healthy, Safe, and Inclusive Communities
• Complete Streets
• Safe Routes to School
• Clean and Safe Ports
• Health Impact Assessment Pilot Projects
• Sustainable Communities Funding

18. Policy Idea #4
Invest Equitably and Focus on Results
• Strategic planning that leads to better outcomes
and more accountable decision making
• Strengthen civil rights enforcement

19. Public Opinion on
Transportation and Job Creation
Source: Rockefeller Foundation Transportation Survey
Conducted by Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies

20. Public Opinion on Public Transportation
Source: Rockefeller Foundation Transportation Survey
Conducted by Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies

21. Public Opinion on Transportation and
Energy Security
Source: Rockefeller Foundation Transportation Survey
Conducted by Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies

22. Public Opinion on Investment in
Biking, Walking, and Public Transit
Source: Rockefeller Foundation Transportation Survey
Conducted by Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies

23. Radhika Fox
PolicyLink
Federal Policy Director
radhika@policylink.org
510.663.2333