Who Gets Access?

   Transportation Equity from the
        National to the Local
             Portland, Oregon
               April 5, 2011

   Radhika Fox, Federal Policy Director
               PolicyLink
About PolicyLink



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


  March 2011:
  •  National - 8.8%
    –  Whites - 7.9%
    –  Blacks - 15.5%
    –  Hispanics - 11.3%


  •  Oregon - 10.2%

  •  Portland - 10%

                           3
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
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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.
Members of the Equity Caucus at
Transportation for America
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
Public Opinion on
Transportation and Job Creation




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




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




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




   Source: Rockefeller Foundation Transportation Survey
   Conducted by Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies
Radhika Fox
      PolicyLink
Federal Policy Director
radhika@policylink.org
      510.663.2333

Radhika fox april_6_2011

  • 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 PolicyLinkis a national research and action institute advancing economic and social equity by Lifting Up What Works®.
  • 3.
    Unemployment March2011: •  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 TransportationAccess 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 FewerEconomic 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 TransportationAuthorization: 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 theEquity Caucus at Transportation for America
  • 12.
    Equity Caucus PolicyPrinciples 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 TransportationAuthorization: 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 •  Pasttransportation 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 Transportationand Job Creation Source: Rockefeller Foundation Transportation Survey Conducted by Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies
  • 20.
    Public Opinion onPublic Transportation Source: Rockefeller Foundation Transportation Survey Conducted by Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies
  • 21.
    Public Opinion onTransportation and Energy Security Source: Rockefeller Foundation Transportation Survey Conducted by Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies
  • 22.
    Public Opinion onInvestment 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 [email protected] 510.663.2333