Safeguarding Minority Civil Rights and Environmental Justice in Service Delivery and Reductions

Abstract

Federal civil rights and environmental justice (EJ) mandates require transit agencies to provide service without racial or income discrimination and to ensure meaningful access by individuals with limited English proficiency. EJ research generally focuses on long-range planning and capital investment decision making. However, for operating agencies, equity in scheduling, service planning, and tactical service delivery operations is critical to compliance with Title VI legislation and FTA Circular C4702.1A. In 2009, New York City Transit (NYCT) designed a service reductions package in response to the economic downturn. EJ considerations were integral to its planning. The use of ridership performance criteria for route selection resulted in fewer impacts on routes with heavily minority or low-income populations. Quantitative analysis ensured that protected demographics were not significantly adversely affected by proposed service rationalizations. Route and frequency modifications and service span changes were evaluated with statistical t-tests during programming stages, resulting in proposals sensitive to equity concerns. Operationally, NYCT actively monitors service using U.S. census, survey, and routine agency data. The t-test and the chi-square test explicitly demonstrate racial and income equity in all aspects of agency operations on the basis of service standards and policies. As an example, t-tests compared the observed load factors with published guidelines; no significant differences in service delivery between demographic groups were found.

Measuring and Controlling Subway Fare Evasion

“…The 2009 fiscal crisis necessitated more agent reductions, leaving only one 24-h booth per station complex (53). A planned attrition program was converted to layoffs when the fiscal situation deteriorated further in 2010.…”

Bike share responses to COVID-19

“…Rapid responses to the pandemic have in some ways shortchanged the planning process, leading to challenges from equity standpoints. Low-income communities suffer disproportionately from reduced access to basic needs following transit changes ( Al Mamun and Lownes, 2011 , Griffin and Sener, 2016 , Karner and Golub, 2015 , NAACP, 2020 , Reddy et al, 2010 ). Inequitable access to bike sharing may be mitigated by supporting annual bike share memberships ( Qian and Jaller, 2020 ) and incorporating dockless services ( Qian et al, 2020 ).…”

Strategic Look at Friday Exceptions in Weekday Schedules for Urban Transit

“…The 2008 economic crisis compelled the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to take several unprecedented actions to restore fiscal health and eliminate budget deficit: aggressive cost reduction and value engineering through the Making Every Dollar Count concept; the most extensive fare adjustments and fare policy revisions in recent memory; early retirement incentives and involuntary separation for certain employees; and for the first time in 30 years, systematic and wide-ranging service reductions (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6). These unfortunate actions are taking place while high gasoline prices make transit an attractive alternative.…”