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Disparity of Access: Variations in Transit Service by Race, Ethnicity, Income, and Auto Availability

Author

Listed:
  • Elisa Borowski
  • Alireza Ermagun
  • David Levinson

    (TransportLab, School of Civil Engineering, University of Sydney)

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between transit-based job accessibility and minority races and ethnicities, low- and middle-income households, and carless households at the block group level for the 50 largest by population metropolitan regions in the United States. A log-linear regression model is used to identify inequities in transit-based job accessibility across the US using data collected from the American Community Survey, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Smart Location Database, and the Access Across America database. The intra-metropolitan analyses reveal that accessibility is unevenly distributed across block groups that have different densities of race and levels of income. The differences in accessibility are especially apparent where there are denser pockets with higher percentages of African Americans, Hispanics, low-income households, and zero-car households. The inter-metropolitan analyses show that accessibility is unevenly distributed across metropolitan regions across the US when considering various sociodemographic populations. Different metropolitan regions provide different levels of accessibility for all investigated sociodemographic categories, whether considering racial minorities, levels of income, or car ownership. The results may inform recommendations for equitable transport planning and policy-making.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisa Borowski & Alireza Ermagun & David Levinson, 2018. "Disparity of Access: Variations in Transit Service by Race, Ethnicity, Income, and Auto Availability," Working Papers 175, University of Minnesota: Nexus Research Group.
    • Handle: RePEc:nex:wpaper:disparity
    DOI: 10.25910/Z07C-KX08
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    File URL: https://hdl.handle.net/2123/18780
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Liu, Luyu & Kar, Armita & Tokey, Ahmad Ilderim & Le, Huyen T.K. & Miller, Harvey J., 2023. "Disparities in public transit accessibility and usage by people with mobility disabilities: An evaluation using high-resolution transit data," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    3. Pritchard, John P. & Zanchetta, Anna & Martens, Karel, 2022. "A new index to assess the situation of subgroups, with an application to public transport disadvantage in US metropolitan areas," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 86-100.
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    5. Russo, Suzanne & Spiller, Beia & Wilwerding, Rachel, 2024. "Equity in Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure," RFF Working Paper Series 24-14, Resources for the Future.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • R40 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - General
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • R20 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - General
    • R14 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Land Use Patterns

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