The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has published its 2024 Transit Equity Report, highlighting the work of transit agencies nationwide to ensure that their services benefit all community members, particularly those in historically underserved communities, and offering three recommendations on fostering greater equity.
The 106-page report (download below) illustrates the measures being taken to embed equity into public transportation. They include revised fare structures, enhanced service routes, and expanded community engagement programs, all aimed at addressing longstanding inequities in transportation access and quality, APTA reported Oct. 1.
These measures were drawn from 11 transit agencies:
- Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) – Los Angeles, Calif.
- Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) – San Francisco, Calif.
- Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) – St. Petersburg, Fla.
- Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) – Baltimore, Md.
- Metro Transit – Minneapolis, Minn.
- Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) – Las Vegas, Nev.
- Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) – New York, N.Y.
- Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) – Philadelphia, Pa.
- Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) – Memphis, Tenn.
- Capital Metro (CapMetro) – Austin, Tex.
- King County Metro – Seattle, Wash.
Additionally, the APTA Transit Equity Report presents recommendations to assist public transportation providers in fostering greater equity within their communities. They are organized into three steps:
- Step 1: “Establish an Equity Foundation: Define organizational equity goals, craft a clear mission statement, and prioritize equity at the highest levels to ensure a unified commitment across all operations.”
- Step 2: “Build Internal Capacity for Equity: Invest in staff training and integrate equity considerations into core functions like planning and budgeting.”
- Step 3: “Implement Community-Focused Equity Initiatives: Develop tailored policies and programs reflecting local needs, foster community partnerships, and explore innovative engagement models.”
To illustrate these recommendations, the report reviews specific agency policies, programs, and projects that are having a measurable equity impact.
“Public transit serves as a critical lifeline, particularly for underserved populations,” said Michele Wong Krause, APTA Immediate Past Chair and Past Chair of Dallas Area Rapid Transit. “This report demonstrates the meaningful progress our industry is making toward creating more inclusive transit systems.”
“The ingenuity and dedication shown by transit agencies nationwide are promising signs of what’s possible when we center our efforts on inclusivity and opportunity,” said Paul P. Skoutelas, APTA President and CEO.
