Establishing Metrics for Equity Programs

In the past decade, many cities have looked to emerging mobility providers to fill gaps in service in areas where transit is costly to operate. Some cities are partnering with transportation network companies to replace existing paratransit service and to provide first-last mile connections to rail stations. Others are requiring e-scooter companies to deploy a portion of their fleet in disadvantaged communities. Many of these programs aim to address long-standing transportation inequities, but how do we know if they are actually effective in producing positive outcomes for marginalized communities? How do we know that the communities we hope to benefit from these programs are actually using these services? More than times than not, we see transportation agencies and local governments rushing towards the procurement process without making the effort to establish metrics for evaluating the efficacy of equity-related initiatives.

Clarrissa Cabasagan, TransForm’s New Mobility Policy Director, shared this sentiment in her lecture where she discussed how TransForm and Oakland DOT used new mobility to advance equity. To promote truly equitable transportation outcomes, she argues that planners must be mindful of a community’s history and that establishing metrics is crucial to ensuring that programs are impactful and sustainable. Metrics should translate to desired outcomes. In some instances, they may be broad or they may be highly detailed. When TransForm helped to expand the Bay Area Bike Share Program in Oakland, one of their goals was to ensure that the program’s expansion benefited low-income, minority populations in the city. They evaluated several initiatives using different metrics. To determine the attractiveness of the Bike Share 4 All (BS4A) incentive program, they measured the share of all riders who are BS4A members and tracked this metric over time. In the Let’s Bike Oakland Bicycle Plan, several action items are accompanied with metrics. To reduce travel times for low-income households, Oakland DOT pledge to increase the overall bicycle network mileage in low-income neighborhoods by 25 percent by 2025. To ensure that community engagement efforts are reaching marginalized communities, Oakland DOT pledged to increase outreach and education events in disadvantaged neighborhoods by 20 percent.  

Many equity-related efforts are tied to big, innovative ideas and good intentions. In the absence of metrics, however, these ideas may not produce desired outcomes. For instance, requirements to deploy dockless devices in disadvantaged communities does not ensure that the quality of service is the same as it is in non-disadvantaged communities. Establishing metrics for equity initiatives can help to ensure that programs are effective and that the agency and their partners are held accountable for ensuring its success. If cities truly want to move the needle on transportation equity, they should take note of what TransForm has done and incorporate metrics into their equity programs.