Highlights The 2016 Austin Mobility Bond provided funding for active transportation projects. The SRTS process prioritized projects using demand, community input, safety, and equity. Qualitative data highlighted inequities in fund allocation, though equity was a criterion in project prioritization. Low-resource communities need significant funding to achieve optimal SRTS infrastructure. Prioritizing equity over equality in distribution of funds for SRTS projects is important.

    Abstract The City of Austin, Texas, USA allocated significant funding for comprehensive Safe Routes to School (SRTS) infrastructure projects split equally across Council districts, but allocated funds using a scoring system incorporating demand, community input, safety, and equity. This case study describes the SRTS project prioritization process and provides a qualitative assessment of how well health equity was addressed. Data from City of Austin reports were combined with school-level demographic data to determine equity of need distribution; interviews were conducted with city-level stakeholders. Area- and school-level socioeconomic status represented equity measures in prioritization of projects for construction. Results indicate that council districts with the highest funding needs had an average of >80 % economically disadvantaged students, and qualitative data identified the equal, but inequitable nature of the funding among the council districts was a top concern. Lessons learned from this process can serve as an example for equity considerations in active transportation infrastructure.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Incorporating equity into active commuting to school infrastructure projects: A case study




    Publication date :

    2022-10-05




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    Incorporating equity into the school bus scheduling problem

    Banerjee, Dipayan / Smilowitz, Karen | Elsevier | 2019


    Incorporating Equity into Pedestrian Master Plans

    Berg, Amber / Newmark, Gregory L. | Transportation Research Record | 2020


    Assessing spatial equity and efficiency impacts of transport infrastructure projects

    Bröcker, Johannes / Korzhenevych, Artem / Schürmann, Carsten | Elsevier | 2009



    Integrating Parental Attitudes in Research on Children's Active School Commuting

    Yang, Yizhao / Markowitz, Ezra | Transportation Research Record | 2012