Examining riders' subjective equity standards for transit Service: How will they shape future transit planning and operations?

Transportation equity is built on the foundation of distributing the benefits and costs resulting from policies and plans in a fair, just, and inclusive manner. However, with the varied and sometimes vague normative interpretations and definitions of equity, there remains a lack of clarity on what equity truly means for different stakeholders. Subjective viewpoints of equity within the public remain largely unexplored, leaving a critical gap in the understanding of societal expectations of transportation equity. This article investigates the subjective equity viewpoints of transit users. The goal of this research is to examine diverse user perceptions of equity standards informed by distributive justice theories, which describe how society should distribute transit benefits among users. The modeling relies on a 2022 survey of 2640 public transportation riders in the wider Chicago area. Using latent class analysis, we identify preference segmentation in transit equity standards, revealing four distinct classes of equity ideals and highlighting a plurality of rider values. We link class membership probabilities to rider profiles, ridership barriers, and land-use variables, uncovering the nuanced determinants of class belonging. Our discussion addresses the implications for transit planning and policy, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging plurality of subjective equity standards. We anticipate that these findings will influence future planning processes, and engagement strategies, and help identify the root causes of perceived inequities in public transit.