Equity in Motion - The CTEDD Podcast

Episode 8: Equity, Jobs, and ALICE Riders on Fort Worth's Transit Network

This episode dives into the issues of social equity and job access for Trinity Metro, the Fort Worth transit system. Rachel Albright and Andre McEwing from the Tarrant Transit Alliance join Dr. Faye Beaulieu from United Way of Tarrant County to talk about the struggles and triumphs of connecting vulnerable populations with jobs and economic empowerment through reliable transit service. They share insights on the region's political climate for mass transit, and make both a business and a socioeconomic argument for transit as enduring civic infrastructure. They also introduce listeners to the concept of Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) households that subsist above the Federal Poverty Level but below a more realistic threshold of basic income survival. ALICE Riders make up a considerable portion of many transit agencies' core ridership, and must therefore be a robust voice in policy and routing discussions. **Data Correction: During the discussion, Ms. Albright accidentally misquoted the United Way ALICE Report. She stated that Tarrant County had 36% of homes considered ALICE and another 11% in poverty for a total of 47%. The correct figure is 25% in ALICE and 11% in poverty, for a total of 36%.

Episode 7: Big Data and Smart Traffic Signals, with Dr. Taylor Li

Dr. Taylor Li is an assistant professor of civil engineering at UT-Arlington, and an emerging expert on technologies linking automobiles with their surrounding transportation infrastructure. His ACTION Lab at UTA is engaged in several projects that investigate ways for technology and Big Data to make roads safer for drivers and pedestrians.

Episode 6: The State of Dallas Transit, with Jon-Bertrell Killen and Patrick Kennedy

This episode features some very colorful and honest discussion about the state of equity in transportation in Dallas. DART board members (and local activists) Jon-Bertrell Killen and Patrick Kennedy give their thoughts on recent elections, "highway scars," job access, and the growing potential for downtown Dallas to be an economic engine for all.

Episode 5: WheelTrip, and the Future of Mobility Assistance in Airports, with Nick Drigal

A growing percentage of America's air traveler population is made up of older adults and people with disabilities. These individuals are enthusiastic travelers, but they sometimes require assistance in navigating airport terminals. This episode features UTA alum Nick Drigal, who led a team of students to national prominence as participants in the FAA Challenge for Smart Airport Student Competition (2020). Nick's team investigated the many challenges and obstacles faced by airport travelers with mobility impairments, and next designed a smartphone app to help with wayfinding, communication, and requesting mobility assistance while navigating airports. Listen in as Nick describes their process and motivations, as well as the future of this fascinating and helpful new tool for more equitable navigation of America's airports.

Episode 4: Transit Deserts and Neighborhood Equity, with Dr. Diane Jones Allen

This episode focuses on the work of Dr. Diane Jones Allen of UT-Arlington, a leading scholar in the emerging field of transit deserts. Dr. Allen is an experienced designer who specializes in infrastructure and park designs for urban neighborhoods in the Southeastern United States, and she is also a visible scholar on issues of racial and socioeconomic equity in placemaking. She and host James Wood discuss her book "Lost in the Transit Desert: Race, Transit Access, and Suburban Form," and explore some of the challenges facing vulnerable communities in Texas.