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Step 1: Equity Analysis

Equity Analysis

Project members will need to be familiar with the community's demographic characteristics to ensure strong public involvement during the course of the planning project. The demographics of the planning area and the types of communities within the planning area may indicate local transportation-related needs. In particular, long-range planning projects must emphasize centering voices of underserved populations to ensure that planned systems benefit these community members and do not disproportionately impact them.

     Definition of underserved populations
Specifically, jurisdictions should reflect the following in the new or updated TSP planning goals and objectives:
  • Transportation-related objectives and outcomes from past planning studies and adopted plans (e.g., downtown plans, hazard mitigation plans, hospital or health department community health assessments and improvement plans, consolidated housing and community development plans, health impact assessments, Americans with Disabilities Act transition plans, access management plans, corridor studies, special transportation area plans, etc.)
  • Regional priorities, performance measures and targets (e.g., safety, mobility, single-occupancy vehicle trip reduction, air quality) especially in metropolitan planning organization areas as articulated in the Regional TSP
  • Consistency with the goals, objectives, and operational and service standards of other transportation service providers managing facilities and servicing the community (e.g., ODOT, the county, transit providers)
  • Alignment with new federal, state, and metropolitan planning organization policies
  • New transportation-related policy objectives, modeling, management, and design techniques and approaches that were not prevalent or known during the last TSP planning process. These policies could reflect new trends (e.g., bicycle tourism, sea level changes, etc.) and/or current best practices within one or more modes
Cities and counties within a metropolitan area that update a TSP are required to include an equity analysis to determine benefits and burdens on Title II, Title VI, Environmental Justice (EJ), and underserved populations. There are two types of equity analysis: a major equity analysis and an engagement-focused analysis. A summary of what's required in each is provided below.

Analysis Type  Major Equity Analysis  Engagement-focused Analysis 
When Required  For communities over 5,000 when completing a major TSP update.

For communities under 5,000 when completing a major update.

For any size community completing a minor TSP update, designating a climate-friendly area, or authorizing a selected roadway project.

Analysis Requirements 

Assess, document, acknowledge, and address:  

  • Where current and past land use, transportation, and housing policies and effects of climate change have harmed or are likely to harm underserved populations. 
  • Where current and past racism in land use, transportation, and housing has harmed or is likely to harm underserved populations.  

Identify geographic areas with significantly disproportionate concentrations of underserved populations.  

Develop or review existing performance measures for key community outcomes.  

Address all information required for an engagement-focused equity analysis.  

Engage with members of underserved populations to develop key community outcomes.  

Gather, collect, and value qualitative and quantitative information from the community on how proposed change benefits or burdens underserved populations.  

Recognize where and how intersectional discrimination compounds disadvantages. 

Analysis of proposed changes for impacts and alignment with desired key community outcomes and performance measures.  





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