Solutions that put people first.

Community Engagement & Equity

Our goal is to make transportation easier for everyone to access, afford, and understand. We work closely with communities, combining local knowledge, data, and transportation expertise to create practical solutions that meet today’s needs and those of future generations.

Our Expertise

Clients come to us to:

• Center Community Needs: Thoughtfully engage the public in projects and incorporate their feedback throughout the process, including project visioning, solutions development, prioritization, and beyond.
• Make Equity Central to Planning: Facilitate inclusive community engagement through interactive and personalized outreach strategies, such as:
  • Meeting with equity priority populations directly, communicating in their languages at their preferred times and locations.
  • Expanding outreach with inclusive engagement methods like digital surveys, pop-ups, focus groups, and community meetings.
  • Partnering with community-based organizations that represent historically excluded voices.
  • Creating accessible visual communications with translations, inclusive graphics, and ADA-compliant design.
• Develop Data-Driven Solutions for Equitable Outcomes: Identify barriers to mobility and find ways to improve the social, environmental, and physical health of communities, by:
  • Expanding low-cost transportation options (transit, discounted rideshare, safe biking and walking infrastructure) in underserved communities.
  • Designing safe, multimodal streets that accommodate all ages and abilities.
  • Addressing freight-related safety concerns, air quality, and noise pollution that disproportionately affect vulnerable communities.
  • Supporting mixed-income and affordable housing in walkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods to improve mobility, affordability, and public health.

Why We’re Trusted

We live in the communities we serve, giving us firsthand insight into local history, culture, and transportation needs. Here are just a few ways we’re making a difference:

• Gender Equity in Transit: We led a team studying transit experiences of women in Los Angeles County—over 50% of riders—capturing insights from hard-to-reach groups like immigrant women, women experiencing homelessness, and women with disabilities.
• Transforming Neighborhoods Streets: We worked with the City of Richmond, California, a local group Pogo Park, and government partner to create a safer, walkable vision for the Iron Triangle neighborhood, focusing especially on children and caregivers. A 48-hour temporary street redesign allowed real-time community feedback and input from emergency services.
• Embedding Equity in Decisions: We created an equity-focused decision tool for Oregon Metro and Oregon DOT, helping define transportation priorities through racial equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Making Rail More Accessible: We conducted an equity assessment for Caltrain, recommending improvements in fares, stations, and service quality, guiding Caltrain’s planning over the next 20 years.
• Expanding Rural Transit Access: To improve connections for rural communities—particularly youth, older adults, people without reliable transportation, and people with disabilities—we helped Lake County, Colorado, plan, secure funding for, and hire an operator to launch a new free bus service. The service is also open to the general public, improving transportation choices for all.

Let’s Connect

Transportation equity is an evolving field. Let’s work and learn together to improve mobility, access, and safety for our communities.