Houston’s growth demands that we prioritize equitable transit now

In the nation’s second-fastest growing metro area, there’s a nagging question: What can Houston’s leaders do to ensure our economy maintains at least an equal pace?

If your thoughts turn to modernizing the region’s transportation network to charge financial engines, you’ve likely done your homework.

Extending 9,444 square miles, Houston’s 12-county metro area is bigger than the state of New Jersey. Reliable, affordable, and efficient transportation is critical for economic prosperity, commercial and personal mobility, and our well-being.

Meanwhile, our region ranks as the nation’s most ethnically diverse metropolitan area. Equal access to transportation services and infrastructure will be critical as the population increases from 7.3 to 8 million people in the next five years.

The rewards for communities that prioritize modern and inclusive transportation systems are improved quality of life and stature. And we know this: Every $1 invested in public transportation generates $5 in economic return.

Houston has the leadership, vision, and resolve. Technology for modeling the future and insights from hyperlocal location data can guide our work. Planners here already use interactive digital maps and virtual models known as digital twins to guide decision-making. Data science is also important for understanding our community and its needs.

Geographic information system (GIS) technology is the enterprise solution that harnesses and distributes these capabilities for collaboration, planning, design, construction, and ongoing operational awareness.

Here, we outline the framework moving us toward the ambitious goal of modern transportation infrastructure that promotes equal opportunity for all.

Assess your community

Having multiple business hubs, four of the nation’s largest ports, renowned universities, and easy access to diversions at the coast, our region has much to offer as a place to work and play. As newcomers arrive seeking education, jobs, and recreation, they also expect to find services to support those pursuits.

Reasonable commute times are a universal concern. Residents have also said they want access to public transit and means of travel that decrease reliance on carbon-emitting vehicles.

All of this means we as a community must prioritize development of a multimodal transportation system. In world-class communities such as ours, transportation planners work to provide a clear vision for regional mobility. Location-based investigation communicated through digital maps will be essential to develop a living masterplan for inclusive community connectivity.

Identify and map equity priority communities

Unequal access to transportation services is a historical reality across the US. Identifying marginalized communities that have less-than-adequate infrastructure and services is at the heart of an equity analysis.

Location-based analysis gives us a way to sift through volumes of public data. Through this process, researchers can locate and map high-poverty neighborhoods, zero-car households, people living with disabilities, and people with limited English proficiency.

Compiling demographic data on maps alongside existing and proposed transportation access points creates geographic context for design, planning, and construction. Planners in Oakland, California, benefitted from a similar geographic approach that prioritized equity in road improvements.

Analyze transportation requirements and accessibility issues 

Safe, efficient, and convenient transportation helps to ensure that all communities have access to goods, services, and opportunities. We know the options in many neighborhoods fall short of that high standard.

For example, missing sidewalks can force pedestrians into high-traffic areas designed for vehicles. Intersections where views are obstructed on the approach increase the risk of collisions and injuries.

Data analysts in Houston use GIS maps and dashboards to document and monitor hotspots for traffic collisions and injuries. This helps decision-makers see the correlations between underinvestment, underperforming infrastructure, and public risk.

Monitor performance of transportation initiatives

Scheduled reporting and automated data collection using sensors are examples of the ways technology can help our city monitor new programs and evaluate their performance.

San Francisco, for example, makes transit service data from six regional agencies available through an equity portal. Researchers can use the data for a range of assessments. In one inquiry, they determined transit commute times from priority neighborhoods. The length of the ride helps to quantify a range of metrics, from gaps in transportation services to barriers to employment and education.

Engage communities and partners 

Collaboration with community groups and other partners ensures that anyone can offer their ideas as we consider how best to improve services. This is the approach the North Carolina-based Centralina Regional Council relied on as it made equity a point of focus for transportation planning.

The council created a planning portal that is open to community stakeholders who represent a diverse and growing region. Data and analysis available through the portal help transportation and land use planners address equity in their strategies for improving mobility.

In this effort, maps became an effective tool for educating and engaging the community on local transportation planning and research.

From vision to action

We know the way forward.

Urbanization amplifies the need for equitable transportation. Houston residents have issued a call for rail and bus services available for extended hours, bike lanes and trails, and safe sidewalks and walking paths for pedestrians of all abilities. These amenities will attract developers and investors who can bring high-quality economic development projects—once new transportation corridors are mapped.

Most of us have seen firsthand how investments in transportation infrastructure have transformed cities across the US: Restaurants, shops, luxury residences, green spaces, and jobs follow the path of modern transit.

Our region deserves to experience nothing less.

Read the free ebook, Creating A More Equitable Transportation System, to learn how communities are using technology to ensure equity and transportation planning.