Equity of transit connectivity in Tennessee cities

• Published in: Journal of transport geography 2020-06, Vol.86, p.102750-20, Article 102750
• Main Authors: Sharma, Ishant, Mishra, Sabyasachee, Golias, Mihalis M., Welch, Timothy F., Cherry, Christopher R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cities; Connectivity; Demographics; Equity; Gini index; Open-source data; Public transit; Public transportation; Spatial data
• ISSN: 0966-6923; 1873-1236
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2020.102750

Federal and state agencies focus on providing captive users in mobility-vulnerable population groups with access to public transit resources. One challenge to the provision of equitable access is quantifying equity-oriented metrics for public transit service. This paper utilizes an approach that utilizes the available spatial demographic data and transit network characteristics to compute multimodal transit connectivity and equity. This method is exemplified by analyzing transit connectivity for three metropolitan cities in the state of Tennessee in the United States and overlapping that connectivity on demographic data. Results indicate that the distribution of transit services among vulnerable populations varies within and between cities. The case studies illustrate how this methodology can be used by public agencies to assess the performance of transit systems and to identify the distribution of these systems among various groups to improve the equity of transit connectivity. •Utilizes open-source data to evaluate transit connectivity and equity.•Proposed concept applied to three major cities of Tennessee.•Transit distribution/equity among the population varies within and between cities.•Memphis's transit system: Most equitable with household income.•Nashville's transit system: Most equitable with vehicle ownership.