The Transportation Authority and local partners One Treasure Island and PODER recently joined 400 transportation and urban planning leaders to participate in the Second Annual Equity in Motion Summit hosted by New York City’s Department of Transportation. The Transportation Authority was proud to serve on the host committee of this one-day summit, where industry, government, academia, and community based organizations shared insights on advancing equity in the planning, delivery, and operations of transportation.
The event was held at a key moment when federal funding for transportation equity initiatives is at a pivotal point.
Conference Highlights
The conference kicked off with opening plenary remarks by NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez who highlighted the inclusive work the agency is doing, and encouraged attendees who joined from across the US and around the world, to continue advancing equity efforts.
Jessie Fernandez from San Francisco’s PODER spoke on the topic of innovating towards healthier urban neighborhoods and ecosystems. He addressed how PODER offers low-income immigrants and BIPOC youth and families with the knowledge, tools, and resources to incorporate bicycling into their everyday lives.
Nella Goncalves, Executive Director of One Treasure Island, together with Suany Chough, Assistant Deputy Director of Planning at the Transportation Authority, presented the Treasure Island Supplemental Study as a case study in the “Planning With, Not For, Communities” panel. They spoke about effective community engagement methods used to understand the transportation needs of current Treasure Island residents as a major redevelopment grows the Island’s population to 20,000 by 2042.
Recommendations from community engagement include an on-island shuttle, improved bus shelters and Muni service, and improved transportation information. We are partnering with One Treasure Island to pursue grant funding opportunities to implement these recommendations.
Tilly Chang, Executive Director of the Transportation Authority and Treasure Island Mobility Management Agency participated in a panel on New York City’s highly effective congestion reduction zone program. Director Chang provided an overview of the agencies’ work on Treasure Island to support existing communities and planned growth through a comprehensive mobility management program that includes congestion pricing. The group’s discussion explored different ways that congestion management toll programs facilitate equity through inclusive public engagement and collaborative program design. A through line was the use of discount and subsidy policies and dedicating toll program revenues towards needed public transportation improvements.