Equity Baseline Survey 2024

2024 Equity and Meaningful Public Involvement in the Transportation Planning Process Survey

DRAFT 3

ONLINE SURVEY SCREEN 1:

Thank you for participating in this survey!

Information Collection Burden Statement

This collection of information is voluntary. Public reporting burden is estimated to average one hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

Please note that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 2125-0665.

Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to: Jazmyne Lewis ([email protected]) or Information Collection Clearance Officer, Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590.

ONLINE SURVEY SCREEN 2:

Introduction

The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) is surveying all State Departments of Transportation (State DOTs) and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) about how they incorporate equity in the transportation planning process. USDOT will use your responses to inform its implementation of the USDOT Equity Action Plan and to identify future technical assistance needs.

Please respond to this survey even if you responded to the 2022 survey. USDOT conducted a similar survey on this topic in 2022, but for the current (2024) survey, USDOT has changed the format and many of the questions.

This survey will inform USDOT’s assessment of progress in implementing key performance indicators (KPI) in the USDOT Equity Action Plan. A high-level summary of survey responses will be developed, similar to the summary of the 2022 survey, but USDOT does not plan to publish individual agency responses. Non-responding agencies will be assumed to have not achieved the KPIs relevant to this survey.

ONLINE SURVEY SCREEN 3:

Terminology

The term “equity,” as used throughout this survey, encompasses the requirements of past laws and executive orders but also includes the definition of equity from Executive Order 14091: Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Throughout the Federal Government:

“…the consistent and systematic treatment of all individuals in a fair, just, and impartial manner, including individuals who belong to communities that often have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander persons and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; women and girls; LGBTQI+ persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; persons who live in United States Territories; persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality; and individuals who belong to multiple such communities.”

The term “underserved communities” is used throughout this survey as an umbrella term referring to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, as exemplified by the list in the preceding definition of “equity.” Agencies may use other terms, including but not limited to disadvantaged communities, historically disadvantaged communities, overburdened communities, environmental justice communities, disproportionately impacted communities, and equity communities in their policies and programs to define and address different community experiences, impacts, harms, and risks. All are within scope of this survey.

ONLINE SURVEY SCREEN 4:

Instructions

In your responses to this survey, please include information about any and all activities related to the advancement of equity in the transportation planning process, no matter if your approach is based on Executive Order 14091, laws and executive orders issued prior to that, or if your agency has its own definition of equity.

You may need to coordinate with other individuals in your agency to compile a single response for your agency. Both MPOs and State DOTs will be taking this survey; please respond only for your agency.

Use the “Next” and “Previous” buttons below to navigate the survey (do NOT use your browser’s “forward” and “back” button). If you exit the survey before completing it, your responses will be saved, and you can return at a later time to continue responding to the survey.

If you have any technical difficulties with the survey, please contact Evelyn Aaron, at [email protected].

(Click the "Next" button to begin the survey.)

NOTE: The bracketed text in blue font that accompanies each question provides information on whether the question is being asked of all respondents or a subset of respondents. In the online survey tool, all skips are automated for a seamless user experience.

START OF SURVEY:

Transportation Planning Process

A number of the survey questions reference the “transportation planning process;” for the purposes of this survey that term includes any of the following: the development of strategic transportation plans (e.g., long-range plans, corridor plans, special purpose plans), the development of programs of projects (e.g., project selection, prioritization, and programming in a TIP or STIP), as well as the public involvement process used to inform the development of plans and programs. Please see the Transportation Planning Process Briefing Book for more information.

Defining and Communicating Equity Priorities

1. [ASK ALL] Does your agency have any documented policies or processes that explicitly address equity in the transportation planning process? The documented policies or processes may be specific to certain categories/groups of individuals, or may be broad-based. (Select one.)

• Yes

• No

a. [IF YES IN Q1] Are these policies or processes documented in the long-range transportation plan (i.e., metropolitan transportation plan or long-range statewide transportation plan)? (Select one.)

• Yes

• No

b. [IF NO IN Q1a] Please provide links to where your agency’s documented equity policies can be found on a public website, if applicable. [OPEN END]

c. [IF YES in Q1] Did you involve the public when defining these polices or processes that explicitly address equity in the transportation planning process?

• Yes

• No

d. [IF YES in Q1c] Please describe how your agency involved the public when defining policies or processes that explicitly address equity in the transportation planning process. [OPEN END]

2. [ASK ALL] For each of the following equity outcomes, select the response that best reflects your agency's current status with respect to implementing policies and processes to address the outcome.

(Please select one response in each row. If multiple levels apply, please select the highest level of implementation.)

Hover over the underlined term below for more information.

Equity Outcomes:	Has implemented a policy or process	Is currently developing a policy or process	Plans to develop a policy or process	Has no plans to develop a policy or process
Prevent undue burdens resulting from transportation plans, programs, and projects.
Ensure a distribution of benefits resulting from transportation plans, programs, and projects accrue to underserved communities.
Identify and mitigate harms to underserved communities resulting from transportation programs and projects.
Correct or address the effects of past discriminatory policies or decisions.
Individuals or groups from underserved communities have a role in decision making (e.g., proposing, selecting, designing projects).
Other (please specify:_____________________)

HOVER BOX: The term “underserved communities” is used throughout this survey as an umbrella term referring to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life. Agencies may use other terms, including but not limited to disadvantaged communities, historically disadvantaged communities, overburdened communities, environmental justice communities, disproportionately impacted communities, and equity communities in their policies and programs to define and address different community experiences, impacts, harms, and risks. All are within scope of this survey.

Identifying Underserved Communities

3. [ASK ALL] Does your agency use data or tools to identify specific communities where equity is a priority or special consideration? (Select one.)

• Yes

• No

1. [IF YES IN Q3] Please indicate which data or tools your agency uses to identify specific communities where equity is a priority or special consideration. (Select all that apply.)

Please consult with others in your agency (e.g., data analysts), as needed, to complete this question.

Click the items with underlined text below to link to the data or tool.

• U.S. Census Bureau data or tools

• EPA EJScreen (Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool)

• FHWA Planning and Equity Tool

• FHWA Screening Tool for Equity Analysis of Projects (STEAP)

• USDOT Equitable Transportation Community (ETC) Explorer

• White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ): Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST)

• Other data or tools developed by a government entity (please specify, and provide link if available: ___________)

• Other data or tools developed by non-government sources (please specify: ______)

4. [ASK ALL] Does your agency involve the public when identifying underserved communities? (Select one.)

• Yes

• No

1. [IF YES IN Q4] Please describe how your agency involves the public when identifying underserved communities. [OPEN END]

5. [ASK ALL] When considering equity in your transportation planning process, which of the following categories/groups are identified as being of special concern or emphasis in your transportation planning process?

Individuals or households with low incomes
People with racial and ethnic backgrounds (e.g., Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color)
Persons with limited-English language proficiency
Members of religious minorities
Individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or Intersex (LGBTQI+)
Women and girls
Older Adults (e.g., over the age of 65)
Youth (e.g., under the age of 18)
Persons with disabilities
Residents of rural areas
Members of communities that lack affordable transportation options
Residents of areas with persistent poverty
Residents of historically underserved communities
Other (please specify: ___________________)
None of the above [EXCLUSIVE]

Conducting Meaningful Public Involvement

6. [ASK ALL] Which elements of meaningful public involvement has your agency used in its transportation planning process in the past two years? (Select all that apply.)

Hover over the underlined term above for more information.

My agency:

• Identifies the composition of the community impacted by a plan or project (e.g., specific populations that will be affected, socio-demographic characteristics of the populations, barriers to participation for populations)

• Ensures that a broad representation of the community relevant to a plan or project has provided input

• Proactively engages with underserved communities

• Adopts public engagement strategies suggested or recommended by underserved communities

• Documents and shares how the input received impacts final plans and project lists

• Involves underserved communities in decision making related to the transportation planning process

• Other (please specify:_______________________)

• My agency does not use specific strategies to meaningfully involve the public in the transportation planning process [EXCLUSIVE]

HOVER BOX. For the purposes of this survey, the transportation planning process includes any of the following: the development of strategic transportation plans (e.g., long-range plans, corridor plans, special purpose plans), the development of programs of projects (e.g., project selection, prioritization, and programming in a TIP or STIP), as well as the public involvement process used to inform the development of plans and programs.

1. [IF Q6=4] Can you please provide one (or more) examples of the public involvement strategies that your agency implemented at the suggestion of underserved communities in the past two years? [OPEN END]

2. [IF Q6=6] Can you please provide one (or more) specific examples of how underserved communities have been involved in decision making in the past two years? [OPEN END]

7. [ASK ALL] Has your agency used any of the following public involvement techniques to better engage underserved communities in transportation planning or project development? (Select all that apply.)

Hover over the underlined term above for more information.

Please consult with other staff (e.g., communications), as needed, to complete this question.

• Hiring Community-Based Organizations

• Providing Food at Public Meetings

• Providing Childcare at Public Meetings

• Providing Financial Incentives or Reimbursements for Participation

• Other (please specify: _______________________________)

• None of the above [EXCLUSIVE]

HOVER BOX. For the purposes of this survey, techniques listed are from the Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement Guide, which can be found here: https://www.transportation.gov/priorities/equity/promising-practices-meaningful-public-involvement-transportation-decision-making

Analyzing Positive and Negative Impacts

8. [ASK ALL] Does your agency typically estimate the impacts (benefits or burdens) of planned projects on underserved communities? (Select one.)

• Yes

• No, but my agency is working on this

• No

1. [IF YES IN Q8] For which activities does your agency typically estimate impacts on underserved communities? (Select all that apply.)

   1. Long-Range Transportation Plan (i.e., Metropolitan Transportation Plan of Long-Range Statewide Transportation Plan)

   2. Planning Studies (e.g., corridor studies, bicycle/pedestrian plans, transit development plans)

   3. Preliminary Project Planning (pre-NEPA)

   4. NEPA-Compliance Project Planning

   5. Project Programing and Funding (i.e., TIP/STIP development)

   6. Other (please specify:_________________)

9. [ASK ALL] To what extent does your agency include factors or measures that are important to underserved communities when estimating the impacts (benefits or burdens) of planned projects? (Select one.)

• Maximum extent possible

• Great extent

• Moderate extent

• Small extent

• No extent

1. [IF Q9 Response is not option 5] Please describe how your agency includes factors or measures that are important to underserved communities when estimating the impacts (positive of negative) of planned projects. Provide links to relevant resources if possible. [OPEN END]

Planning and Programming Projects to Achieve Equitable Impacts

10. [ASK ALL] Does your agency use equity as a prioritization factor when determining which projects or activities to fund in your planning work program (e.g., Unified Planning Work Program, State Planning and Research Program) (Select one.)

• Yes

• No, but my agency is working on this

• No

11. [ASK ALL] Does your agency use equity as a prioritization factor when selecting projects to include in the long-range transportation plan (i.e., Metropolitan Transportation Plan or Long-Range Statewide Transportation Plan)? (Select one.)

• Yes

• No, but my agency is working on this

• No

• Does not apply – my agency does not include projects in the long-range transportation plan

1. [IF “YES” IN Q11] What methods does your agency use to prioritize projects that address equity in the long-range transportation plan? (Select one.)

• Mostly Quantitative methods (e.g., weighting, point system, scoring)

• Mostly Qualitative methods (e.g., agency priorities)

• About an equal mix of qualitative and quantitative methods

2. [IF QUANTITATIVE OR MIX IN Q11a] Please describe the quantitative methods used to prioritize equity in the project selection process for the long-range transportation plan. If a link to a tool or scoring method is available, please include it in your comment. [OPEN END]

3. [IF QUALITATIVE OR MIX IN Q11a] Please describe the qualitative methods used to prioritize equity in the project selection process for the long-range transportation plan. [OPEN END]

4. [IF YES IN Q11] When selecting projects for inclusion in the long-range transportation plan, does your agency use equity as a prioritization factor for ALL funding sources (i.e., for every project dollar planned) or for SOME funding sources? (Select one.)

• All funding sources

• Some funding sources

12. [ASK ALL] Does your agency use equity as a prioritization factor when selecting projects to include in the program of funded projects (i.e., Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) or Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP))? (Select one.)

• Yes

• No, but my agency is working on this

• No

1. [IF “YES” IN Q12] What methods does your agency use to prioritize projects that address equity in the program of funded projects? (Select one.)

• Mostly Quantitative methods (e.g., weighting, point system, scoring)

• Mostly Qualitative methods (e.g., agency priorities)

• An equal mix of qualitative and quantitative methods

2. [IF QUANTITATIVE OR MIX IN Q12a] Please describe the quantitative methods used to prioritize equity in the programming process. If a link to a tool or scoring method is available, please include it in your comment. [OPEN END]

3. [IF QUALITATIVE OR MIX IN Q12a] Please describe the qualitative methods used to prioritize equity in the programming process. [OPEN END]

4. [IF YES IN Q12] When selecting projects for inclusion in the program of funded projects, does your agency use equity as a prioritization factor for ALL funding sources (i.e., for every project dollar programmed) or for SOME funding sources? (Select one.)

[Visible to MPOs Only:] Please only consider those funding sources for which your agency has project selection decision making authority.

• All funding sources

• Some funding sources

5. [IF Q12d=SOME FUNDING SOURCES] When selecting projects for inclusion in the program of funded projects (i.e., TIP or STIP), for which of the following funding programs is equity used as a prioritization factor (Select all that apply.)

Category	Agency	Program
Discretionary Grants	Multiple	Discretionary Grants (e.g., RAISE, Safe Streets and Roads for All, Bridge Investment Program, PROTECT, Fixed Guideway Capital Investment Grants, Bus and Bus Facilities Grants)
Federal-Aid Highway Formula Programs	FHWA	National Highway Performance Program (NHPP)
Federal-Aid Highway Formula Programs	FHWA	Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG) [other than Transportation Alternatives set-aside]
Federal-Aid Highway Formula Programs	FHWA	Transportation Alternatives (TA) Set-Aside of STBG
Federal-Aid Highway Formula Programs	FHWA	Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)
Federal-Aid Highway Formula Programs	FHWA	Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program (CMAQ)
Federal-Aid Highway Formula Programs	FHWA	National Highway Freight Program (NHFP)
Federal-Aid Highway Formula Programs	FHWA	Other Federal-aid Highway funding programs
FTA Formula Grants	FTA	Urbanized Area Formula Grants (sec. 5307)
FTA Formula Grants	FTA	Formula Grants for the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities (sec. 5310)
FTA Formula Grants	FTA	Rural Area Formula Grants (sec. 5311)
FTA Formula Grants	FTA	Other FTA Formula Grants
STATE or LOCAL Funding	STATE or LOCAL	State or Local Funding Programs
OTHER	OTHER	Other (please specify: ___________________)

Program of Projects – Digital Location Data

13. [ASK ALL] Does your agency have digital location data (e.g., GIS files or digital maps) for projects included in the program of funded projects (i.e., TIP or STIP)?

• Yes

• No

1. [If Q13a = YES] Does your agency share digital location data about projects included in the program of funded projects (i.e., TIP or STIP) in any of the following ways? (Select all that apply. Do not allow selection of both options 3 and 4; If last option is selected don’t allow others to be selected)

• Yes, by publishing downloadable geospatial files

• Yes, by publishing static or interactive maps online

• Yes, by making geospatial files available to anyone upon request

• Yes, by sharing geospatial files with partner agencies only

• Yes, through other means (please describe): ________

• No, my agency does not share digital location data about projects in the program of funded projects (i.e., TIP or STIP)

2. [ASK ALL] Has your agency analyzed location data for projects included in the program of funded projects (i.e., TIP or STIP) to help address transportation planning or policy questions? (Select one.)

• Yes

• No

3. [If 13b = Yes] Which topics has your agency analyzed using location data for projects included in the program of funded projects (i.e., TIP or STIP)? (Select all that apply.)

• Environmental justice

• Civil rights

• Other equity-related topics

• Other topics not related to equity

Barriers to Advancing Equity

14. [ASK ALL] How can USDOT better help remove barriers to advancing equity in the transportation planning process? [OPEN END]

Technical Assistance and Training Needs

15. [ASK ALL] USDOT is planning technical assistance and training opportunities for State DOTs and MPOs on advancing equity in the transportation planning process. Are you interested in being contacted with information about these opportunities? (select all that apply)

    • Yes, I would like to be contacted with information about how to apply to host a peer exchange focused on learning about equity in transportation planning techniques used by other agencies.

    • Yes, I would like to be contacted with information about training opportunities on meaningful public involvement.

    • No, I am not interested in being contacted with information about these technical assistance and training opportunities.

Contact Information

16. We have the following contact information on file for your organization for this survey. If the information is correct, you can proceed to the next question. If there are any errors, please correct the agency contact information, or add new contact information if appropriate.

Agency:

Contact Name:

Email Address:

Phone Number:

17. Please confirm if you are ready to submit your responses. (Select one).

• Yes, I have completed the survey and I would like to submit my final responses (Note: if you click this button, you will not be able to return to the survey).

• No, I am still working on the survey and will complete it later.

Thank you for your time and effort in completing this survey; your participation is greatly appreciated!

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