Dive Brief:
- The U.S. Department of Transportation is asking for feedback on its proposed update to an online resource that enables users to identify transportation investments that could be beneficial to disadvantaged communities. Comments may be submitted by hand, mail or online but must be received by Dec. 16, 2024.
- The Transportation Community Explorer shows transportation insecurity scores across four measures at the national, state and county level, along with various measures showing place-based burden and population-based vulnerability.
- Transportation costs place an outsize burden on low-income households, according to DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The TCE will aid the federal transportation department as well as state and local agencies as they prioritize programs, policies and investments targeting transportation affordability.
Dive Insight:
The DOT first launched an online tool to measure disadvantaged communities’ transportation experiences in early 2022 and updated that platform the following April. The newly proposed update looks to improve the usefulness and accuracy of the data, especially for rural and tribal communities. The TCE also provides downloadable data for all 50 states.
“When done right, transportation policy can transform economies, connect people to opportunities, and empower underserved communities to build generational wealth for the future,” the transportation department states in a notice posted to the Federal Register on Dec. 3.
Cities, state transportation departments, transit agencies and other entities can use the updated data site in many ways. For example, a city could analyze household transportation costs and income to prioritize projects such as bike lanes to help reduce costs for residents in those areas. A state DOT could identify areas where personal vehicles are the predominant form of transportation and then implement targeted policies that incentivize electric vehicle uptake or expand public transit options. A transit agency may use transportation cost burden data to provide reduced-fare programs or expand bus service in select neighborhoods.
