Book Description

The research for this study began with a literature review of the existing rules and regulations at federal and state levels pertaining to environmental justice (EJ). This literature search was followed by phone interviews with several transportation organizations and agencies around the country and within CDOT. The surveys were conducted to assess the processes currently in place related to EJ in the context of transportation planning. The next step in the research was to evaluate the best way to define, identify, and locate minority populations and low-income populations within the State at the planning level. Having identified where the low-income households and minority populations reside in the State, a successful public involvement program needs to occur to seek out these targeted population groups in order to provide opportunities for involvement in the transportation planning decision-making process. Implementation: To provide consistency in the application of an environmental justice analysis for statewide and regional transportation planning purposes, it is recommended that the definitions and identification methodologies for low-income and minority populations be incorporated into the statewide planning process. Suggested changes to four of CDOT's planning documents are provided: CDOT Metropolitan Planning Organization Guidance Manual, Colorado Department of Transportation Guidelines for Public Involvement in Statewide Transportation Planning and Programming, CDOT Regional Transportation Planning Guidebook, and Rules and Regulations for the Statewide Transportation Planning Process and Transportation Planning Regions.