01031402

Component

The concept of environmental justice requires transportation planners and policy makers to address the distinctive implications of transportation projects and services for traditionally under-served or disadvantaged populations. While in past decades, ethnic and foreign-born populations have often been concentrated in large metropolitan areas, small and medium sized communities are experiencing increasing levels of inward migration of foreign-born populations. Language and cultural barriers often make it difficult for multi-modal planning to comprehend and address the distinctive values, needs and behaviors of these diverse groups. By analyzing focus groups of different ethnic populations in the Twin Cities of Minnesota in comparison to those in smaller communities, this paper addresses differences between the transportation values and needs of foreign-born ethnic populations in the rural or small town environment with those in the larger metropolitan environment. The value of examining the transportation attitudes and needs of ethnic and foreign-born populations is important to implement environmental justice principles, as it increases the role of low-income and minority populations in the public involvement and decision-making process.

01020180

06-2422

English

20p

2006

Transportation Research Board 85th Annual Meeting

CD-ROM

Figures (1) ; References (32) ; Tables (1)

Cultural resources; Culture (Social sciences); Decision making; Language; Minorities; Persons by race and ethnicity; Policy making; Transportation planning

Disadvantaged persons; Foreign nationals

Administration and Management; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Society; I10: Economics and Administration

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2006 Paper #06-2422

TRIS, TRB

Mar 3 2006 10:59AM