At MassDOT, we believe that transportation is important for what it does (allow people to access destinations and opportunities), not for what it is (pavement and vehicles). People – and the quality of travel that all of us experience – is at the center of all our work. We recognize that certain communities, including low-income, nonwhite, foreign-born, and others, have historically been overburdened and underserved by transportation networks. Transportation equity is far from a stand-alone issue at MassDOT. It is part and parcel of everything that we do, and a key consideration as we plan, design, construct, and implement all elements of the transportation network, from roads to subways, and freight to ferries.
For example, MassDOT’s annual 5-year Capital Investment Plan (CIP) includes an analysis of the distribution of investments between Title VI and Environmental Justice communities and the rest of the state, as well as an analysis of the geographic distribution of anticipated funding.
MassDOT is also putting transportation equity at the forefront of our statewide long-range transportation plan called Beyond Mobility, which is currently under development. We are proud of the robust outreach we have conducted in traditionally underrepresented communities and have changed many elements of our work based on this public feedback.
Many of our planning studies also prioritize, if not center, transportation equity and justice as a primary goal of the work. The Office of Transportation Planning (OTP) is committed to leveraging as many tools, datasets, public outreach and engagement resources, and other opportunities as possible in order to further the utility of our transportation network to as many people as possible, with a special eye towards those communities that are particularly vulnerable and reliant on our services.
MassDOT’s Office of Diversity and Civil Rights (ODCR) ensures nondiscrimination in all MassDOT programs and activities, whether they are federally funded or not, and that services and benefits are fairly distributed to all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income.
For more information about transportation equity at MassDOT, please contact:
- Liz Williams regarding equity in state transportation planning
- Derek Krevat regarding equity in metropolitan transportation planning
- Greg Sobczynski regarding ODCR activities, including Title VI, federal compliance and diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI)