1666614 - Using Data to Integrate Equity in Infrastructure Project Development/Selection Process (PDP)

ABSTRACT TITLE:

Using Data to Integrate Equity in Infrastructure Project Selection Process

Submitted by: John McFadden, Ph.D., P.E., PTOE, RSP₁

ABSTRACT:

On January 20, 2021 President Biden signed Executive Order 13985 “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government”.  As a result of this order, the United States (US) Department of Transportation (DOT) indicated that they will undertake a comprehensive approach to advance equity for all and assess to what extent its programs and policies perpetuate systemic barriers to opportunities and benefits for people of color and other underserved groups.

The proposed presentation focusses on how to deploy a data driven process to examine and deliver an equitable distribution of resources on infrastructure investments focused on improving highway safety.  A review of how state and local jurisdictions in the US can incorporate equity into their project selection process will be reviewed.  Common data driven practices will be examined that include identify data sources (including the US census) and analysis techniques that can help accomplish the US DOT goals stated above. 

 As examples, two jurisdictions that currently deploy equity based criteria for roadway infrastructure project selection will be reviewed namely the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) and the City of Portland, Oregon.  These two jurisdictions incorporate equity criteria into the project selection process and this research will explore their approaches. Common census tract variables used to integrate equity in the decision-making process will be identified and documented. The findings of this research could then be used to help communicate best practices for establishing equity-based criteria for project selection for other jurisdictions.