DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY FOR GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING TOOL

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) uses a Multimodal Transportation Planning Tool (MTPT) to analyze the improvement and investment needs for multimodal facilities in rural areas. The MTPT performs needs analysis for highways, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, local transit, intercity bus, commuter and passenger rail, and aviation. GDOT has initiated a project to upgrade the capabilities of the MTPT to perform environmental justice (EJ) analysis. This paper discusses the approach designed to develop an EJ analysis procedure for the MTPT. The MTPT EJ analysis procedure will be used as a "first cut" in equity analysis in the overall EJ evaluation and mitigation process for prospective rural transportation improvements. This paper presents key findings of a literature review on the regulatory and planning requirements, data sources, and analysis approaches and tools for EJ analysis. It then identifies and discusses the key factors influencing the results of EJ analysis in order to determine the basic requirements for a robust EJ analysis procedure. Key factors are defined as those whose variation can significantly affect the results of EJ analysis and hence the credibility of the analysis results to EJ stakeholders, i.e., target and non-target populations, as well as planning agencies. The following are identified as key factors: the benefits and burdens of transportation improvements, the target populations identified for the analysis, the spatial scale selected for the analysis, the choice of impact thresholds for determining disproportionately high and adverse impacts, and the manner in which data uncertainty is addressed. The basic requirements for a robust EJ analysis tool are determined based on these key factors. This paper is potentially useful to agencies interested in upgrading their planning analysis tools to perform EJ or equity analysis.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: p. 399-410

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00939823
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Mar 25 2003 12:00AM