Assessing social equity considerations within transportation asset management

Abstract

The impacts of transportation systems on people and communities are substantial but challenging to quantify. It requires significant effort and attention for transportation agencies to improve how social concepts such as equity are effectively incorporated into transportation asset management (TAM) plans and practices. This study, therefore, looked at TAM plans and practices to assess the current application of equity and suggested ways to improve equity incorporation into TAM at the state level. A content analysis was done on the 2019 TAM plans from all U.S. states, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and the results showed that equity-related words were rarely mentioned. This indicated that TAM is one of the sectors where equity is still marginalized, and there is a strong need to improve the incorporation of equity into TAM. The study then identified several equity definitions and measures that fit the context of pavement management and, as a result, TAM. Pavement management was used for demonstration purposes as pavements are a major type of asset managed by all state Departments of Transportation (DOTs). Definitions and measures were identified by reviewing documents from the USDOT and FHWA and three sustainability rating systems widely used in transportation: Envision, Greenroads, and INVEST. In addition to these definitions and measures, this study discussed several available guides and tools that would help agencies bring equity considerations into TAM, specifically at the state level. The results indicated that although some resources provide equity definitions and measures that can be used in TAM, more work is needed to develop them to match the practices and approaches used in this sector.