At its October meeting, the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) approved a resolution calling for the optimization of land around high-capacity transit stations and the elevation of Equity Emphasis Areas in the planning process. Board members also had a lively discussion about new TPB research on equity issues related to bus services and fares. In addition, the TPB received briefings on two federally required activities–the forthcoming approvals of Enhanced Mobility grants and transit safety targets.

Approval of Resolution on High-Capacity Transit and Equity Emphasis Areas

Following up on a lengthy discussion at the TPB’s September meeting, the board approved a resolution that supported two resolutions approved by the COG board of directors earlier in October. These actions by both boards endorsed the use of key tools to promote creating Transit-Oriented Communities, a strategy for leveraging the land around transit stations to promote prosperity, accessibility, livability, and sustainability.

These tools, presented as maps, provide geographic specificity to guide decision-making and action:

• High-Capacity Transit (HCT) Station Areas – By 2030, the region anticipates that 225 HCT stations–including Metrorail, commuter rail, streetcar, and BRT–will be in place throughout the region. More than 40 percent of anticipated household growth and over half of new jobs are expected to occur in HCT areas. The TPB’s TLC Program and more recently the Transit Within Reach Program have long supported projects focused on leveraging and enhancing these places.
   
• Equity Emphasis Areas (EEAS) – First approved by the TPB in 2017, EEAs are small geographic areas that have significant concentrations of low-income populations, people of color, or both. The TPB already uses EEAs as criteria for project selection for its grant and technical assistance programs. As national attention has turned to concerns about equity, the EEAs are available for use as a practical tool throughout the region.

The TPB resolution, approved unanimously, called for the TPB’s member agencies to use these planning concepts and tools to inform decision making, particularly while making transportation planning and programming decisions for future updates to the TPB’s long-range transportation plan and transportation improvement programs.

“If we are successfully able to do all of this, just imagine the world where the work of the TPB and COG is at maximum efficiency and synergy,” said Arlington County Board and TPB Board Member Christian Dorsey in introducing the resolution. “It will produce nothing but benefits for the people we serve.”

Regional research on equity issues related to bus service and fares

New TPB research on equity issues related to bus services and fares generated extensive interest among TPB members. Staff presented a white paper and webmap on bus transit equity in the region looking specifically at local bus service coverage and frequency in relation to the travel needs of traditionally disadvantaged populations. In addition, the board was briefed on a memo summarizing national and local transit fare-relief initiatives and experiences.

The white paper on bus service looked at geographic coverage and frequency of operations, as well as changes that occurred during the pandemic. As part of this analysis, different indices, such as the Transit Equity Need Index, were documented on a webmap to identify locations where heavy users of transit, including those who are transit-dependent, are likely to reside.

Among its numerous findings, the white paper found that traditionally underserved groups have somewhat greater access to peak, high-frequency transit (15 minutes or better) when compared to the region as a whole. While 30 percent of the region’s general population have access to 15-minute or better services in the morning peak period, 44 percent of low-income households, and 33 percent of people of color have such access. Crucially, however, TPB staff noted that the low percentage of access to frequent service across the board, even in the peak periods, remains a concern for quality of life and access to jobs, particularly for those who are do not have access to a car or are transit-dependent.

The TPB staff memo on fare policies looked at national and regional examples of transit systems that have been either temporarily or permanently reduced or eliminated fares during the pandemic. The analysis found that the benefits of fare-relief strategies like increased ridership, faster boarding, and the increased equity for minority riders should be weighed against the existing costs of fare collection / enforcement, the potential for system crowding, service delays, the administrative costs for need-based strategies and alternative funding uses like improving service frequency and reliability. The report said that decision makers also need to consider longer-term impacts from fare-relief policies, including changes in trip choices, increased income for low-income recipients, and macroeconomic outcomes such as land value changes.

“This is a really important conversation for us to think about from a couple standpoints,” said TPB Chair and District of Columbia Councilmember Charles Allen. “How do we make policy decisions that are aimed at those people that have been hardest hit by the pandemic and keep the equity lens front and center? And also, how do we help our transit systems recover and grow ridership back? This is crucial not just for the success of our transit agencies but for our businesses and for our entire region…This is one of those great unifiers that certainly is not a DC or Maryland or Virginia issue. It is about all of us.”

Shyam Kannan, representing WMATA on the TPB, drew a sharp distinction between bus riders who are often lower-income and their counterparts on rail who are typically higher-income and tend to be less racially diverse. He noted that buses provide essential services for transit-dependent communities and the pressure to expand and improve these services is acute.

“Really what we're dealing with here is a tale of two systems and that's a hard thing to contend with as a region,” said Kannan. “So we applaud COG and TPB’s focus on addressing existing inequities and doing their part to create a more equitable region.”

Briefing on federal Enhanced Mobility program

The TPB, with COG as its administrative agent, is the designated recipient of the Federal Transit Administration’s Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program for the Washington DC-VA-MD Urbanized Area. The board was briefed on the program and the status of the 2021 solicitation and selection process. For the 2021 solicitation, approximately $6.6 million in Federal funds were available and 22 applications were received. The board is scheduled to approve funding recommendations at its November meeting.

Performance-Based Planning and Programming: Draft transit safety targets

As part of another federal requirement, the board was briefed on draft regional targets for transit safety performance measures, including fatalities, injuries, safety events, and system reliability. These measures are required under the federal performance-based planning and programming (PBPP) rulemaking for public transportation providers and MPOs. The board will be asked to approve the regional targets at its November meeting.

MORE: Visit the TPB meeting page for presentations and other materials.