Addressing disparities through more equitable transportation planning

Reprinted from CTS Catalyst April 16, 2026

Transportation capital investment planning plays a vital role in shaping the future of infrastructure—but often leaves people with disabilities, youth, older adults, people of color, and disadvantaged communities underserved. A recent UMN research project aimed to gain a better understanding of how to include equity in planning and decision making.

To gain a better understanding of how to include equity in planning and decision making, a recent research project explored this complex topic through a literature review, statewide survey, and analysis of case studies. This research, sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and the Minnesota Local Road Research Board, resulted in considerations and strategies, including a toolkit, to increase community engagement and guide future transportation development for Minnesota localities and Native nations.

Camila Fonseca-Sarmiento, director of fiscal research for the Institute for Urban & Regional Infrastructure Finance at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs and a CTS scholar, led a team of researchers through a review of case studies for which equity was included in capital investment planning. As in other states and localities across the United States, the team found that the definition of equity and the goals of equity-related funding ranged widely across Minnesota’s counties, cities, and Native nations.

Incorporating equity factors in transportation investment planning in Minnesota has occurred through small, incremental changes. A few jurisdictions have already integrated equity into their planning efforts, while some others are in the process of doing so. Jurisdictions with a more comprehensive equity framework are those in which equity is part of a local initiative, compared to those who mentioned equity efforts as a response to federal funding requirements, such as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disability Act.+6

Minnesota brings an additional set of equity considerations through the inclusion of the state’s 11 Native nations. These Ojibwe and Dakota communities and reservations share many of the same needs and challenges as other localities but also possess unique cultural considerations, including sovereignty, sacred sites, and environmental protection. For example, on a practical level equity for Native nations means fair employment—equitable job opportunities, wages, and hiring preferences for tribal members to ensure benefits stay within the tribal nations on or near reservations. On a cultural level it means dual language signage for English and Ojibwe or Dakota on roads and highways that traverse Native lands.

“Equity is not a one-size-fits-all approach,” Fonseca-Sarmiento says. Engaging community members early in the planning process helps planners understand transportation needs beyond roadway investments—such as a community’s historical experience, culturally specific needs, and current gaps. The research findings offer guidance on how to gather local input through surveys and in-person meetings guided by trained staff.

The transportation capital investment planning and decision-making process consists of several phases where equity could be integrated: identifying projects, prioritizing capital investment projects through multi-step processes, and selecting projects for funding through community advisory committees.

A toolkit developed by the researchers could help improve communication and engagement with underserved communities. Its two key tenets are that agencies need to proactively reach out to the community, and trust-building is essential for effective relationships.

In addition, Dillon Dombrovski, deputy public works director/city engineer with the City of Rochester and the project’s technical liaison, says the community engagement toolkit “provides effective guidance to combine community input with supporting data to invest in more equitable transportation projects.”

Fonseca-Sarmiento says it’s also critical to listen and then include diverse perspectives in the final transportation plan. “Engaging local stakeholders in the planning process but then leaving them out of the finished project decreases trust and limits future engagement,” she says. “Overall, having regular community engagement for identifying transportation capital investment projects can also help prevent perpetuating past inequities.”

—Amy Goetzman, contributing writer