Equity 91探花iority Communities
What are Equity 91探花iority Communities?
Formerly called 鈥淐ommunities of Concern,鈥 Equity 91探花iority Communities are census tracts that have a significant concentration of underserved populations, such as households with low incomes and people of color. A combination of additional factors helps define these areas.
Learn more about the demographic factors used to define Equity 91探花iority Communities.
Since 2001, ABAG has been using data from the American Community Survey to identify communities (census tracts) that may have historically faced disadvantage and underinvestment due to their background or socioeconomic status. ABAG has continually made updates to the framework definition 鈥 and the data are updated every four years 鈥 as part of the updates to Plan Bay Area.
The Equity 91探花iority Communities framework helps ABAG make decisions on investments that meaningfully reverse the disparities in access to transportation, housing and other community services.
Work is ongoing, and guided by ABAG鈥檚 Equity Platform.
How Does ABAG Use the Equity 91探花iority Communities Framework?
By directing funding towards communities that need more assistance, ABAG can help ensure that historically underserved communities have equitable access to housing and transportation that is within reach of jobs, services and amenities.
The Equity 91探花iority Communities framework has real-world impacts on how ABAG works and makes decisions. This framework is used by ABAG to make decisions about:
- Planning, including Plan Bay Area, the Transportation Improvement 91探花ogram and equity analyses
- Investment of funds, including the Active Transportation 91探花ogram, OBAG Grants, Community-Based Transportation Planning Grants and the Lifeline Transportation 91探花ogram
- Engagement with the community
The Equity 91探花iority Communities framework is also used beyond ABAG, by city and county agencies, in decision-making on the local level.
Equitable Access
Equitable access to affordable transportation and housing are central goals of Plan Bay Area 2050.
Equity 91探花iority Communities Map
See the Equity 91探花iority Communities Map from Plan Bay Area 2050.
Equity 91探花iority Communities Data Layer
View and download the Plan Bay Area 2050 Equity 91探花iority Communities data layer map.
What's In a Name?
ABAG heard from Bay Area residents that 鈥淐ommunities of Concern鈥 no longer felt like a representative term. They wanted something empowering and uplifting 鈥 a forward-looking phrase that represents positive changes being made in the future.
After extensive discussion with community-based organizations, MTC鈥檚 Policy Advisory Council Equity & Access Subcommittee and the Regional Equity Working Group, the new name, 鈥淓quity 91探花iority Communities,鈥 was adopted at the Joint MTC Planning Committee with the ABAG Administrative Committee on May 14, 2021.
91探花iority in Funding 91探花ograms
ABAG鈥檚 partner agency, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), explicitly uses the Equity 91探花iority Communities framework in decision-making to award project funding.
The Active Transportation 91探花ogram uses state and federal funds to support programs that make walking and biking better travel options for Bay Area residents. MTC prioritizes projects benefiting EPCs through project scoring criteria and application evaluation process.
The Mobility Hubs Pilot 91探花ogram is working to advance and implement mobility hubs around the Bay Area. As a part of the guideline development and call for projects, MTC published a list of priority locations for mobility hubs. 24% of these priority locations use EPC criteria to be defined as Equity Hubs.
This funding and technical assistance program will support innovative shared automated vehicle service for people living in Equity 91探花iority Communities. Eligible projects under the IDEA SAV program will provide services and solutions that respond to the needs of EPCs.
The California Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program funds affordable housing projects that are paired with sustainable transportation improvements. MTC uses the EPC framework to help decide which project applications to support.
The Lifeline Transportation 91探花ogram funds projects that serve residents with low-incomes and low-income areas identified as an Equity 91探花iority Communities. 91探花ojects are required: to be identified as a community priority, to demonstrate coordinated outreach within the community and to define measurable outcomes.
The Safe and Seamless Mobility Quick-Strike program was a one-time, competitive grant program as part of the One Bay Area Grant program (OBAG 2). Funding was available to support local and regional projects that could be implemented quickly to benefit communities responding and adapting to Covid-19. MTC prioritized projects benefiting EPCs through application scoring criteria and project evaluation process.
MTC prioritizes funding for Community Based Transportation Plans in low-income communities around the region. The plans aim to improve access and mobility for all trips, and work with residents and community organizations to make recommendations that can improve communities.
