Equity and Mobility Advisory Committee

About the Equity and Mobility Advisory Committee (EMAC)

To ensure equitable I-205 and I-5 toll projects and processes, and to help develop a framework, ODOT convened an Equity and Mobility Advisory Committee. This committee is a group of individuals with professional or lived experience in equity and mobility coming together to advise the Oregon Transportation Commission and ODOT on how tolls on I-205 and I-5 freeways, in combination with other demand management strategies, can include benefits for populations that have historically been underrepresented or underserved by transportation projects. 

In providing input to the Oregon Transportation Commission, the Committee shall consider needs and opportunities for achieving community mobility and equity priorities as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for toll implementation. Currently, ODOT is considering options for tolling locations on the I-205 and I-5 corridors. The Committee will advise on the equity foundation of these toll projects, including guidelines, strategies, and processes. 

Equity and Mobility Advisory Committee Purpose

The committee shall advise the Oregon Transportation Commission by:

• Providing input and supporting ODOT during the technical and environmental review process (NEPA) to ensure milestone decisions and project developments are grounded in the draft toll projects' equity framework, including the development and refinement of performance measures and the evaluation of alternatives for the I-205 and I-5 Toll Projects. 
• Providing input on mobility and equity strategies as the I-205 and I-5 Toll Projects are going through the NEPA process, including: 
• Availability of transit and other transportation options
• Transportation needs of, and benefits for, people of color and people with low-incomes, limited English proficiency or disabilities that live near or travel through the project area
• Better understanding of neighborhood benefits and impacts for the communities near the tolled facilities (e.g., changes to cut-through traffic, pedestrian and bicycle options, transit access)

• Developing an equitable engagement plan that will result in ongoing input and participation from communities that have been historically and are currently underrepresented in transportation planning 
• Supporting the implementation of the equitable engagement plan by hosting or cohosting meetings, events and/or other activities as determined by the engagement plan
  

Equity and Mobility Advisory Committee Members

The Equity and Mobility Advisory Committee has 15 members, including members appointed by the ODOT director and selected through an open application process.

The 15 committee members represent a spectrum of mobility and equity interests. We selected members for the experiences and perspectives they can offer as Oregon develops the toll program.

Forming the committee was a collaborative process between states, cities and counties. To start, we asked local agencies in Clackamas, Washington, Multnomah and Clark counties, as well as the cities of Vancouver and Portland, for their advice on who should represent their communities. For transit and ride services representation, we asked TriMet, Ride Connection, CTRAN, and SMART to identify members with equity and mobility experience. Then, to add experience in active transportation, racial equity, social equity and large business, we invited regional partners to offer recommendations. County coordinating committees and their technical staff in Clackamas, Washington and East Multnomah counties contributed, as did nearly 20 non-profit organizations in the Portland metro area.

We designated three at-large committee members through an open application process. ODOT's project team reviewed more than 40 applications using a blind review system. They selected top candidates on diversity and equity criteria, including:  commitment to, and experience in, supporting or advocating for equitable processes and outcomes; experience with the transportation system in the Portland metro area and/or Southwest Washington; and, interest in participating on the committee. From the original pool, the project team created a “short list" of five candidates; ODOT named three of them to serve at-large.

The roster includes:

Alando Simpson, Oregon Transportation Commission Vice Chair, serves as the EMAC liaison.  

Phil Ditzler, Federal Highway Administration, serves as an Ex-Officio member on the EMAC.

Equity and Mobility Advisory Committee Meeting Information