Metrics for Equity in Transit-Oriented Development: A Case for Sustainable Investment in Los Angeles

Abstract

Public transportation investments have the power to bring economic growth, mobility and environmental sustainability at the same time that they can reinforce segregation and income inequality. It is at this juncture that Los Angeles County faces a grand opportunity to develop equitably and sustainably. By doing so, low-income residents can be connected to a sophisticated transit network, and through it, jobs, amenities, and a low-carbon lifestyle– leading to sustainable growth for the region. For this reason, it becomes increasingly important to develop tools with which to measure equity outcomes around transit development. This study will use existing literature and interviews from representatives of the transit-oriented development (TOD) field to develop an equity screening metric that will ensure that development is both cognizant and applied, such that future development around transit is equitable, and benefits those who rely most on transit.