Systemic inequities exist in the transportation network as decisions and services have traditionally been based on a limited perspective of community needs. Understanding the range of public uses and preferences in a multicultural society to advance an equitable transportation system requires an exploration of the lived experiences of marginalized communities. This project identified common themes and unique needs of 10 distinct Minnesota communities to support MnDOT in advancing equity.
While MnDOT strives to ensure that the impacts and benefits of the transportation network are equitably distributed across the state’s communities, structural—or systemic—racism and other inequities persist. Implicit biases can result in transportation actions or policies that favor some communities over others. For example, communities of color were displaced and suffered significant harm with the construction of the interstate highway system.
Institutional decisions—including MnDOT’s—have traditionally reflected the perspectives of the dominant culture or race. Addressing inequities in the transportation system requires knowing how distinct communities have been underserved or disproportionately harmed by understanding their unique experiences. To equitably serve all Minnesota communities, MnDOT sought an in-depth exploration of the transportation needs and viewpoints of marginalized community members.
What Did We Do?
A literature review provided contextual background and methodologies to analyze community perspectives. To understand transportation experiences and impacts on different populations, researchers identified a unique framework: Instead of examining policies, issues or actions from a dominant culture perspective, researchers placed the lived experiences of communities or individuals who are traditionally at the margins at the center of an investigation. Additionally, a recognition that transportation touches all the important domains of life—work, family, health, community and spirituality—provided the basis for understanding transportation barriers to a fulfilling existence.
“Supplementing smartphone-based travel diaries with in-depth interviews of community members gives us a much better understanding of how the transportation system impacts people’s lives. We learned where people couldn’t go because they didn’t have a way to get there, such as helping an aging relative or the inability to get or keep a job.”
—Lisa Austin, Director, MnDOT Center for Community Connections
Researchers explored communities with geographic and demographic diversity and distinct ethnic and/or marginalized groups with strong representations in Minnesota. Community organizations helped to recruit 130 people to participate in the study, including at least eight members from each of 10 communities. Urban participants included Latinx, African Americans, Hmong, people with disabilities, immigrants, people living with HIV, single mothers and single fathers. From rural areas, transitioning home residents and White Earth Nation tribal members participated.
Qualitative data resulted from semistructured interviews with open-ended questions about transportation habits, needs, barriers, and coping or survival strategies. Questions also explored unique group issues.
A smartphone-based app integrated temporal and spatial information and facilitated the collection of quantitative travel behavior and perceptions, attitudes and feelings about transportation experiences.
What Did We Learn?
While previous research on transportation issues in underserved communities illustrated the value of quantitative data, this study highlighted the value of qualitative data collected through in-depth conversations.
Initial challenges in engaging with community members revealed the need to meet people where they were (such as talking to a passenger on a bus) rather than requiring them to travel or make other separate efforts, and to compensate them for their participation ($40 for interviews and $70 for using the smartphone data app for seven consecutive days).
Data describing the lived experiences of people in the 10 communities revealed that inequities exist in the current transportation system and that good transportation is much more than well-maintained infrastructure or systems. Common themes among groups included the need for and challenges to owning a car, inadequacies in public transportation, and reliable transportation as a foundation to all aspects of life. In addition to providing access to employment, groceries and healthcare, transportation is essential for maintaining family and community connections and meeting spiritual needs.
Community members also described unique issues. People with disabilities, for example, reported paratransit services provided some independence but were unreliable. White Earth Nation members, located in a rural setting, reported limited access to healthy food and spiritual activities. Participants in recovery expressed the fear of relapsing if they saw drug users on the train. Transit-dependent participants described the inability to accept or keep a job because of inadequate transportation. Hmong community members indicated a lack of culturally relevant outreach, and several communities identified concerns related to personal safety.
Researchers and participants offered several recommendations, including decommodifying and reconceptualizing public transportation to include a broad range of mobility services, and facilitating more diverse public engagement in decision processes.
What’s Next?
Project findings will support MnDOT’s Advancing Transportation Equity Initiative and community engagement efforts. The research illustrated the importance of talking directly to community members to understand their transportation needs. Additionally, the transit office will use the qualitative data in working with communities and community-based organizations, and in developing ridership surveys.
Crossroads 