Planning for transportation equity in a diverse community: The barriers to and benefits of public involvement in the planning process

Historically, U.S. transportation policy and design have been left to the professionals, reserving public comment for the end of the planning process, when there is little opportunity left to influence the plan or effect change. This exclusionary planning process has resulted in an inequitable distribution of funds and services, with low-income and minority urban communities receiving few of the benefits, but many of the problems associated with the current transportation system. It is widely felt by social and environmental advocates that to reverse this trend and move towards a more equitable and ecologically sustainable transportation system we must democratize the planning process by involving stakeholders in all levels of the decision making process. Through focus groups and interviews, this research examines the transportations needs of immigrants in Lowell, Massachusetts and identifies barriers to public involvement in transportation decision-making.; Findings show that many of the barriers that immigrants face, such as limited hours of bus service and the high cost of automobile maintenance, mirror the experiences of many underserved communities, but the language and information barriers that surfaced in this research have special implications for communities with a large immigrant population. The results of this study also suggest that the service gaps experienced by Lowell's immigrant population may in part be caused by planning practices that rely heavily on planning experts, highway personnel, transit representatives and city officials to make decisions for the community. This thesis concludes with suggested strategies to improve transit service and to open up the planning process to include the interests and experiences of Lowell's diverse population.