Social justice in transportation investments is demonstrated when transportation costs and benefits are equally shared by all segments of society. The topic will get a fresh look in Hillsborough County, as the Hillsborough MPO and the Portland, Oregon MPO partner in a project proposed by USF’s local Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR), to study how transportation-related benefits and costs are shared by all residents. Factoring in are things such as average travel time, access to jobs, bus service availability, crash rates, and air quality. The National Institute for Transportation & Communities (NITC) selected this project as one of only 14 grant award recipients across the country this year.
“We look forward to working with CUTR in the coming year to address how transportation contributes to a better community for all,” said MPO Executive Director Beth Alden. The grant award is anticipated in the fall of 2015. To be notified of the study’s progress, please send your contact information to Michele Ogilvie, ogilviem@plancom.org, and stay tuned for future issues of MPO news