What Does 'Inclusive' Transportation Really Mean? (Veronica O. Davis)
Aug 1, 2023
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Veronica O. Davis discusses the need for an inclusive transportation approach to repair divided communities in the face of federal investment. She emphasizes prioritizing resources in high-injury areas, community engagement in projects, and advocating for non-car modes of transportation for equity and well-being.
Inclusive transportation requires a new playbook to engage and empower marginalized communities effectively.
Prioritizing community needs and data-driven decisions are essential for creating equitable and safe transportation systems.
Deep dives
Veronica O'Harais's Diverse Career Rooted in Inspirational Family History
Veronica O'Harais has built a remarkable career in transportation, influenced by her grandmother's house being torn down in Louisiana years before her birth to construct a highway, a story echoing the experience of many minorities and low-income residents. She holds degrees as a planner and engineer from prestigious universities, co-founded Black Woman Bike, engaged in community journalism for advocacy, led a transportation agency in Houston, and emphasized a future of inclusive transportation in her book.
Inclusive Transportation Challenges Established Norms and Advocates for Multimodal Culture
Veronica O'Harais's book, 'Inclusive Transportation,' advocates for a profound shift from a car-centric culture to a multi-modal transportation approach. She stresses the need for better projects, decision-making, and public engagement in the transportation industry. O'Harais emphasizes the importance of prioritization based on community needs, envisioning a future where inclusion defines transportation planning and design, promoting safer environments for all individuals, especially children and those with disabilities.
Community Engagement and Prioritization of High-Injury Areas Key to Equity in Transportation
Veronica O'Harais highlights the significance of community engagement in transportation projects, stressing the need for meaningful and tailored interactions to ensure effectiveness. She emphasizes the triage approach in addressing high-injury areas, advocating for bold leadership to prioritize critical safety concerns. O'Harais underscores the importance of data-driven decisions, especially in identifying communities disproportionately affected by transportation issues, guiding policymakers to focus resources on areas with the most urgent needs.
With billions of federal dollars promised to reconnect communities torn apart by highways, America could be the brink of one of the largest mobility justice movements in decades. To really right the wrongs of our transportaiton past, though, author Veronica O. Davis agues we need a new playbook for how to engage and empower the Black, brown and low income communities we harmed — and her book, "Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities," could be a fantastic candidate. We sat down with Davis to talk about her deep and diverse experience as a planner, engineer, journalist, and advocate, how to make tough decicions when communities have massive needs, and why an equitable future cannot be car dependent.
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