Effective participation of communities of color in transportation planning

The Intermodal Surface Transportation Act of 1991 (ISTEA) marks the greatest change in transportation policy since the creation of the interstate highway system. One aspect of ISTEA is the requirement for planners to pro-actively seek the participation of people of color in the planning process. This thesis identifies some of the underlyng issues which promote or preclude the involvement of communities of color in transportation planning, both in the agenda setting and decision-making process. I explore social justice and equity issues through sociology, anthropology, planning and environmental justice literature, and through interviews with activists and transportation planners. My conclusions focus on building a dialogue between planners and activists, broadening the traditional role of the transportation planner, and fostering greater contact and trust between planners and communities.