What Can San Francisco Do To Improve Transportation Equity Issues?

Introduction 

The availability of functional and easily accessible transportation services cannot be overstated in the operations of any urban society. Though this is a complicated feat, particularly in the 21 st century, it is also inevitable. 1 In this regard, one of the fundamental problems of any given metropolitan area is its ability to meet the transportation needs of its populace and at the same time, maintain and enhance the region's and city's reputation as a desirable place for people to work and live. In their quest to achieve this, cities are faced with multifaceted challenges that affect the quality of life of the urban area dwellers. 2 One important transportation challenge affecting major cities globally is transportation equity. 3 San Francisco transportation is faced with various challenges. These include the poor condition of roads, overreliance on nonrenewable energy, unaffordability, illegal use of public transit lanes by private shuttles, and poor remuneration of public transit workers leading to a shortage of bus operators and poor services. This essay will explore why transportation equity is an issue and the current transportation equity issues in San Francisco and suggest ways of improving the same. Lastly, it will offer potential policy recommendations. 

Why is T ransportation E quity an I ssue? 

It is undeniable that transportation acts as a lifeline for any city dweller. In particular, transportation services ensure that individuals can access basic needs like food, housing, jobs, and healthcare resources, among other vital services . 4 It is due to this realization that such an initiative as the Advanced Project was initiated in the United States (U.S.). This project is based on the narrative that for a transit network to be considered effective, it has to accommodate the different means of transportation. These means include biking, driving, rail, bus, or walking. Likewise, it is crucial that low-income communities, especially those made up of people of color, can access these different transportation options. 

Access to different means of transport ensures that less privileged individuals improve not only the quality of their life but also existing health disparities. For example, the ability of these individuals to cycle and walk safely is vital for their mobility. There is a consensus amongst scholars that wealthier communities boast stronger transportation infrastructure for active transportation compared to their low-income counterparts. 5 This phenomenon exists irrespective of the fact that the latter have a higher likelihood of being carless. It is such scenarios that make transportation equity a concern for cities globally. 

Transportation equity is concerned with the query of whether or not the users of a particular transportation system are being offered modal choices that are reasonably meaningful and equal. This is deemed crucial for these users to access education, jobs, healthcare, and other vital opportunities. Fundamentally, transportation equity entails not only treating all individuals equally with regard to their access to transportation services, but also acknowledging, recognizing, and righting any historical wrongs. 6 7 Inevitably, this involves increasing investments in communities and neighborhoods that have historically been disadvantaged with regard to transportation funding. 

The transportation policies and investments implemented in the U.S. in the past have played a key role in creating and reinforcing social and racial inequities. For instance, the emphasis on the fast movement of cars, coupled with sprawling patterns of land use in the 1950s affected vulnerable communities adversely. 8 Residents of such communities, including immigrants, people of color, low-income families, that those who are disadvantaged by age and ability amongst other factors are likely to use public transport or walk since they can't afford cars. Interestingly, these communities are provided with unsafe and inadequate cycling or walking opportunities, which hinders their ability to access the most vital opportunities. Access to transportation services, which is measured in the form of commuting time, plays a crucial role in determining the ability of individuals to escape poverty. 

There are also concerns that investments in transportation have mostly favored individuals who are capable of owning or operating a car. At the same time, such investments have crossed through communities that are already vulnerable. This has severely affected such communities by causing physical divisions, safety concerns, and reducing the value of their property. 9 Also, these developments have severely affected the quality of air in such communities leading to increased cases of asthma and other illnesses related to poor air quality. The persistent, pervasive, and deep racial inequities observed in different sectors of the U.S. economy are also rife in the transportation sector. For instance, low-income households are likely to spend a higher proportion of their total income compared to their wealthy counterparts, and this is expected to persist. One key reason for this is that residents of low-income neighborhoods are often priced out the walkable neighborhoods that are close to public transit. 10 This phenomenon can increase transportation costs for such communities and reduce access to vital opportunities for these households. In such cases, efforts to promote transportation equity are crucial to addressing these challenges. 

Transportation Equity Issues: The Case of San Francisco 

San Francisco is characterized by several elements that are vital to its recognition as a world-renowned city and a center of technology. Transportation equity issues in San Francisco pertain to public and private transit. However, the most significant transportation equity issue with regard to the two is a lack of funding. Lack of funding compounds and makes the manifestation of other related challenges easy. 

Public Transit (MUNI/BART) 

One of the transportation challenges facing San Francisco is the expensive nature of its public transit. For instance, data from a previous survey by Caltrain has revealed equity challenges, particularly in the context of the existing fare structure. 11 As shown in Table I, riders from low-income households have a higher likelihood of using costly fares. These riders also have limited access to discounted monthly passes and go-passes that are deep-discounted. Based on the survey's income breakdown, Caltrain's rider base is skewed towards riders with higher incomes that average at $129,000. This implies that customers from low-income households are excluded from accessing the services, which is undoubtedly problematic. 

Several pilot programs have been implemented with the goal of addressing this challenge. One such program entailed the provision of Caltrain passes at discounted rates to workers in the low-income bracket. This initiative established the existing demand for transportation service is suppressed considerably by the current fare structure. 12 Other interventions have focused on comparing the provision of zone-based fares with distance-based fares. Moving forward, addressing fare structure problems requires that such factors as congestion relief, ridership, and social equity are put into consideration. Likewise, there is a need to ensure that the services offered and their pricing is compatible with the Bay Area Rapid Transport (BART) system. This will ensure that there is ease of use of transportation services. Likewise, there is a need to benchmark the existing fare structure with that of other cities in the world. 

Table I: Fare Products by Annual Household Income 

Private shuttles present yet another challenge for San Francisco. Currently, it is proposed that MUNI buses, as well as private shuttles like Google buses and Chariot, are allowed to make use of San Francisco's public transit-only lanes. 13 There are concerns that this proposal is likely to be problematic, given that there are no limits to the buses that are allowed to operate in the city. As a result, it has been argued that MUNI might not be able to meet the demands of the increasing population if it is focused on competing with other vehicles for lane space. The move has also been deemed to be against the law and a bad idea. 14 

Transit workers in San Francisco cannot make a living wage by solely driving buses. Due to this, the state is faced with bus operator shortages. 15 The new drivers, given their little pay compared to previous new drivers, are not able to survive on their salary. This has forced them to seek alternative s ources of income or to relocate due to the high cost of living in San Francisco. The shortage of bus operators has resulted in poor service delivery, which is manifested through delays and reduced accessibility for the elderly and those with disabilities. 

Private Transit (Driving/Biking) 

Private transit in San Francisco is faced with several challenges. One such problem is safety on the roads for both drivers and cyclists. San Francisco has embraced cycling as an essential means of transportation for its dwellers. However, despite such efforts, the city's busy roads and compact intersections make collisions inevitable. On the other hand, the condition of the city's roads is wanting. Driving on bad roads costs residents of California up to $61 billion on an annual basis. 16 This cost is attributed to delays related to congestion, increase costs of operating vehicles, and traffic collisions. In California, the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) are increasing, thus increasing GHG emissions. 17 It is projected that VMT in California will increase with growth in the state's economy and population. Ultimately, this trend is expected to exacerbate the traffic congestion that is already severe and GHG emissions. 

Literature Review 

Lessons from Other Cities 

Different cities have handled transportation equity issues differently. One such city is the fast urbanizing Shenzhen in China. A study was conducted to assess the transportation equity issue in Shenzhen through a comparison of accessibility in various groups. 18 In Shenzhen, it was established that there is a need to examine transportation equity over a long period of time. This approach is also crucial in availing information on how best to develop urban development strategies. 

Public transport policies play an important role in shaping a city's spatial and social structure. Such policies determine the ease with which individuals can access such opportunities as employment opportunities, education as well as health services. Scholars conducted a study in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to evaluate the transport policies that had been developed as the city geared towards hosting such major events. The researchers established that one of the strategies was the expansion of the existing rail and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) infrastructure. 19 Results showed that expansion of the transportation infrastructure between 2014 and 2017 resulted in increased access to transportation services, though the subsequent economic crisis negated these gains. 20 On evaluating future accessibility impact of the ongoing BRT corridor, the scholars established that the project would significantly improve the city dwellers' access to job-opportunities, especially among the low-income households. 

In the U.S., there has been an increased emphasis on active transportation modes owing to their benefits to individuals and society as a whole. This realization has resulted in increased funding for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Despite these efforts, equity impacts pertaining to cyclists and pedestrians are often overlooked. As a result, active transportation benefits and costs are often inequitably distributed. Based on this realization, a previous study sought to develop a comprehensive understanding of active transportation equity, identify existing limitations in practice and research, and offer recommendations to researchers and planners. The study established that there was a need to consider other groups besides the minority and low-income groups when conducting an equity analysis. 21 Ultimately, the scholars concluded that for fair sharing of the benefits and costs of active transportation, equity has to be holistically addressed during the planning process. 

Current Resources and Law on Transportation Equity 

Several resources and laws are available to San Francisco in its quest to address transportation equity issues indicating that the city has been at the forefront of improving its transportation equity challenges . One such strategy is the proposal to provide free MUNI rides to the disabled, the elderly, and disadvantaged youths. This move is aimed at increasing accessibility and affordability of public transportation. 22 The existence of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is yet another useful resource. The commission’s Policy Advisory Council members reside in the Bay Area and are keen on advocating for the disabled and those from under-served areas while advocating for an efficient transportation network. 

The proposal for a quarter-cent sales tax is yet another vital resource. This would generate up to $1.5 billion per year to help meet up to $5.7 billion worth of annual road infrastructure requirements that are not funded. San Francisco uses the Proposition K half-cent sales tax for transportation. This tax generates about $100 million yearly, which is used in acquiring light rail vehicles and buses, paving the streets, creating bike lanes, and improving pedestrian safety. 23 Other notable initiatives include Proposition 30 and 38. To increase tax collection, there is a need for a law that ensures that money assigned for transportation is not used for other purposes. Also, the California Department of Transportation needs to be given the flexibility to adopt such cost-cutting methods of project delivery as public-private partnerships. 

The MUNI Service Equity Strategy of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is yet another important resource. This strategy is aimed at benefiting up to 8 Equity Neighbourhoods, those with disabilities, and senior citizens. Another critical entity in addressing equity issues in San Francisco is the San Francisco County Transportation Agency (SFCTA), particularly in the context of funding. 

Improving Transportation Equity in San Francisco 

To achieve transportation equity in San Francisco, there is a need to address the existing transportation inequities. This is as follows; 

Increase Funding/Invest in Transit 

This is the leading and most important solution to achieving transportation equity in San Francisco. This is because opportunities for funding have declined over the years. For instance, Proposition 30 and Proposition K expired in 2016 and 2018, respectively. As a result, the city lost billions of dollars intended for improving transportation. This can be addressed by resuming both Proposition 30 and Proposition K. 

The relevant authorities also have to allocate financial resources to the transport sector. These resources should be used in providing affordable and quality public transit services and facilities, especially to the community, depend on public transit. 24 For instance, the cost of using MUNI should be reduced considerably and made free in some locales as well as such groups as the youth, elderly, and those with disabilities. Investment in the sector should also seek to create as well as enhance connections between underserved neighborhoods with employment centers due to the former's isolation from job opportunities. 

There is also a need to integrate technology-based and shared mobility options like scooters, bikes, cars, and telecommuting in underrepresented neighborhoods. To ensure that MUNI is functional, all transit bus operators should be given a living wage. Any illegal access to San Francisco’s public transit-only lanes by private shuttles should be charged. Substantial amounts should also be used in researching and developing options that change how people travel. One notable example is an investment in the California High Speed Rail . Overall, fixing the funding challenge will make it easy to address other issues. 

Incentivize Sustainable Transportation 

The city authorities should create programs and policies that promote active transportation. Likewise, they should offer affordable, smart, and safe transportation alternatives. 25 Besides promoting health, these alternatives may aid in minimizing dependence on vehicles. For instance, by constructing bike lanes, the city will promote human health and reduce GHG emissions. On the other hand, by ensuring that the transport network is in good physical condition, the city would save road users millions of dollars. There is also a need to reduce the negative impacts of the existing freight transportation systems, especially on low-income residents and people of color. These groups often reside near freight facilities and routes. 

Promote Equitable Spending in the Transport Sector 

Equitable spending should be prioritized across the transport system and in the distribution of related infrastructure projects. For instance, there is a need to increase access to training and jobs in the general transportation industry for individuals from historically underrepresented communities. 26 This would also include increasing the share of transport contracts awarded to these individuals. Equity should be mainstreamed as a core criterion to be considered when spending in the transport sector as well as distributing any infrastructure that the communities prioritize. 

Enhance Public Engagement and Participation 

All stakeholders should design engagement processes that promote community participation and the inclusion of those that have traditionally been underrepresented and underserved by the existing transit system. This way, all community members will be involved in articulating their transportation needs and the strategies they deem useful in addressing these needs. 27 The community engagement practices should also be culturally sensitive owing to the presence of different groups such as immigrants. 

Enhancing collaboration and coordination 

In order to advance equity, collaboration and coordination have to be enhanced across the non-transportation and transportation agencies, organizations, and institutions. Promoting multi-stakeholder collaboration is crucial in creating a collective vision that also boasts outcomes that are mutually beneficial. This would aid in facilitating effective implementation of transport-related programs and projects as well as and accountability in the same. 

Oppositions regarding improvements in public transit are often anchored on the fiscal implications. In this regard, opponents of proposals to make transit improvements reckon that such l arge-scale expenditures are hard to fund and may not give any meaningful returns. Likewise, there are concerns that any changes made can disrupt the existing system causing unprecedented financial implications. However, despite these concerns, the cost of implementing the proposed strategies for improving public transit in San Francisco can be met by mobilizing all the concerned stakeholders to fund the initiatives. 

Policy Recommendation 

The quest to address transportation equity challenges facing San Francisco should pay close attention to the outcomes of the current transportation equity gaps. In this regard, outcome evaluation metrics associated with equity, including qualitative and quantitative measures, should be considered. This is vital in understanding the disparities faced by such groups as low-income households, senior citizens, those with disabilities, youth, immigrant groups, and people of color. Likewise, this is a crucial step in promoting effective community engagement and fostering long-lasting relationships between different factions of the San Francisco community. Moreover, these outcomes are vital when benchmarking from other cities and devising strategies to address the transportation equity gaps identified. 

Bibliography 

Aloisi, James. & Johnson, Jared. “ The transportation equity conundrum: 6 ways cities can improve mobility without displacement.” GreenBiz, October 9, 2018. Accessed November 30, 2019. https://www.greenbiz.com/article/transportation-equity-conundrum-6-ways-cities-can-improve-mobility-without-displacement 

Bullard, Robert D. "Addressing urban transportation equity in the United States."  Fordham Urb. L .J. 31 (2003): 1183. 

Cabanatuan, Michael. “ S.F. offers free Muni rides to some seniors and disabled persons.” SFGate, January 20, 2015. Accessed November 30, 2019. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/S-F-offers-free-Muni-rides-to-some-seniors-and-6028440.php 

Cohen, Stuart, and Alan Hoffman. "Pricing Roads, Advancing Equity." (2019). 

Friends of Caltrain Blog. “ C altrain fare study update shows equity problems.” Green Caltrain, n.d. Accessed November 30, 2019. http://www.greencaltrain.com/2017/12/caltrain-fare-study-update-shows-equity-problems/ 

McClaire , Megan. & Nomachi , Jonathan. “ Transportation Equity: Improved Quality of Life and Reduced Health Disparities for Los Angelenos .” Advancement Project, July 6, 2016. Accessed November 30, 2019. https://www.advancementprojectca.org/blog/transportation-equity-improved-quality-life-reduced-health-disparities/ 

Moss, Mitchell, and Hugh O’Neill. "Urban mobility in the 21st century."  A Report for the NYU BMW Project on Cities and Sustainability  (2012). 

Pereira, Rafael Henrique Moraes. "Distributive justice and transportation equity: inequality in accessibility in Rio de Janeiro." PhD diss., University of Oxford, 2018. 

San Francisco County Transportation Authority. “ Prop K Half-Cent Sales Tax.” San Francisco County Transportation Authority, n.d. Accessed November 30, 2019. https://www.sfcta.org/funding/prop-k-half-cent-sales-tax 

Redmond, Tim. “S hould private shuttles be able to use Muni-only lanes?” 48Hills, August 19, 2018. Accessed November 30, 2019. https://48hills.org/2018/08/should-private-shuttles-be-able-to-use-muni-only-lanes/ 

Rodriguez, Joe Fitzgerald. “SFMTA workers struggle to meet basic needs.” San Francisco Examiner, December 28, 2015. Accessed November 30, 2019. 

https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/sfmta-workers-struggle-to-meet-basic-needs/ 

The American Society of Civil Engineers. "2017 Infrastructure Report Card—A Comprehensive Assessment of America’s Infrastructure." 

Vaughan, Sue. "S.F. transportation agency gives private buses illegal access to transit-only lanes." 48Hills, December 16, 2018. Accessed November 30, 2019. https://48hills.org/2018/12/sf-transportation-agency-gives-private-buses-illegal-access-to-transit-only-lanes/ 

1 Moss, Mitchell, and Hugh O’Neill. "Urban mobility in the 21st century."  A Report for the NYU BMW Project on Cities and Sustainability  (2012). 

2 Ibid 

3 Bullard, Robert D. "Addressing urban transportation equity in the United States."  Fordham Urb. L .J. 31 (2003): 1183. 

4 McClaire , Megan. & Nomachi , Jonathan. “ Transportation Equity: Improved Quality of Life and Reduced Health Disparities for Los Angelenos .” Advancement Project, July 6, 2016. Accessed November 30, 2019. https://www.advancementprojectca.org/blog/transportation-equity-improved-quality-life-reduced-health-disparities/ 

5 Ibid 

6 Aloisi, James. & Johnson, Jared. “ The transportation equity conundrum: 6 ways cities can improve mobility without displacement.” GreenBiz, October 9, 2018. Accessed November 30, 2019. https://www.greenbiz.com/article/transportation-equity-conundrum-6-ways-cities-can-improve-mobility-without-displacement 

7 Ibid 

8 Cohen, Stuart, and Alan Hoffman. "Pricing Roads, Advancing Equity." (2019). 

9 Ibid 

10 Cohen, Stuart, and Alan Hoffman. "Pricing Roads, Advancing Equity." (2019). 

11 Friends of Caltrain Blog. “Caltrain fare study update shows equity problems.” Green Caltrain, n.d. Accessed November 30, 2019. http://www.greencaltrain.com/2017/12/caltrain-fare-study-update-shows-equity-problems/ 

12 Friends of Caltrain Blog. “Caltrain fare study update shows equity problems.” Green Caltrain, n.d. Accessed November 30, 2019. http://www.greencaltrain.com/2017/12/caltrain-fare-study-update-shows-equity-problems/ 

13 Redmond, Tim. “S hould private shuttles be able to use Muni-only lanes?” 48Hills, August 19, 2018. Accessed November 30, 2019. https://48hills.org/2018/08/should-private-shuttles-be-able-to-use-muni-only-lanes/ 

14 Vaughan, Sue. "S.F. transportation agency gives private buses illegal access to transit-only lanes." 48Hills, December 16, 2018. Accessed November 30, 2019. https://48hills.org/2018/12/sf-transportation-agency-gives-private-buses-illegal-access-to-transit-only-lanes/ 

15 Rodriguez, Joe Fitzgerald. “SFMTA workers struggle to meet basic needs.” San Francisco Examiner, December 28, 2015. Accessed November 30, 2019. https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/sfmta-workers-struggle-to-meet-basic-needs/ 

16 The American Society of Civil Engineers. "2017 Infrastructure Report Card—A Comprehensive Assessment of America’s Infrastructure." 

17 Hymel, Kent M. "Factors influencing vehicle miles traveled in California: Measurement and analysis."  California State University, Northridge  (2014). 

18 Zhou, Qingfeng, Donghui Dai, Yaowu Wang, and Jianshuang Fan. "Decade-Long Changes in Disparity and Distribution of Transit Opportunity in Shenzhen China: A Transportation Equity Perspective."  Journal of Advanced Transportation  2018 (2018). 

19 Pereira, Rafael Henrique Moraes. "Distributive justice and transportation equity: inequality in accessibility in Rio de Janeiro." PhD diss., University of Oxford, 2018. 

20 Ibid 

21 Lee, Richard J., Ipek N. Sener, and S. Nathan Jones. "Understanding the role of equity in active transportation planning in the United States."  Transport reviews  37, no. 2 (2017): 211-226. 

22 Cabanatuan, Michael. “ S.F. offers free Muni rides to some seniors and disabled persons.” SFGate, January 20, 2015. Accessed November 30, 2019. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/S-F-offers-free-Muni-rides-to-some-seniors-and-6028440.php 

23 San Francisco County Transportation Authority. “ Prop K Half-Cent Sales Tax.” San Francisco County Transportation Authority, n.d. Accessed November 30, 2019. https://www.sfcta.org/funding/prop-k-half-cent-sales-tax 

24 Bullard, Robert D. "Addressing urban transportation equity in the United States."  Fordham Urb. L .J. 31 (2003): 1183. 

25 Moss, Mitchell, and Hugh O’Neill. "Urban mobility in the 21st century."  A Report for the NYU BMW Project on Cities and Sustainability  (2012). 

26 Ibid 

27 Bullard, Robert D. "Addressing urban transportation equity in the United States."  Fordham Urb. L .J. 31 (2003): 1183.