Agenda - 11-01-2022; 5-c - 2022 Orange County Transit Plan Update

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EQ transit equity. 11 The concept of "riding with dignity" remained a major organizing element of the Civil Rights Movement and major movement leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr. scenario. "made the case that transit systems did not do enough to help poor people access opportunities for gainful, meaningful employment, leading him to conclude that Imagine " bus in which all the seats urban transit systems were 'a genuine civil rights issue;"an insight that has taken are spaced equally apart—equality on new relevance in recent years. exists. Or ..- There is the me leg room distance between For these reasons and more, equity is woven throughout the "o rows of seats and each EQUITYOrange County Transit Plan Update as a unifying theme.The Plan is spaced equally apart from _ 1110INVIM110 Update prioritizes projects that improve equitable outcomes and other. actively works to mitigate historical inequities related to transit equality _ ness. But and transportation. The Plan Update also seeks to cultivate what about the initial determination " • • a shared language for discussing issues of equity and builds f what is _ _ g room or BUS STcapacity by describing less obvious connections between transit �_ _ _ • ' en seats? If planning and equity.The blue "Equity Connection"signs identify ual" �" the opportunity to learn more about transit equity. ' decision '' ' person • and weighs only 1 "While some aspects of transit inequality have improved-Blacks and other pounds, person how omfortable is such _ non-whites are no longer relegated to the back of the bus-in other respects seating for a et there are still significant barriers to the formation of transit policies and tall and weighs 250 pounds? The practices that will affirm that...transit is a fundamental public good that we myth of equality - people needs,have exactly same all benefit from regardless of age, race, or class." _ - Dr. Irma McClaurin the same access, and the same chances for equal outcome. somewhere • • the way, one Equality - Equality and Equity: What's the person or group . - . decision difference? in theirown favor(privileging Two words are used in the policy and planning arenas that are often confused or impactsit everyone. benefits used interchangeably - equality and equity. These words are not the some and - decision ' does not care should be taken when using either.Equality is simply the state of being"equal" equallybenefitothers who were (in number, value, rank, etc.) and most people equate equality with "fairness" not involved in the •" • and "sameness" The (often unfounded) idea that people can be treated exactly process. Hist• •• many the some and experience similar outcomes is often what drives debates about voices have been - out of - • whether equity is needed. transportation planning resulting unequalin highly processes an• The Concept of Equality decision makin• Sameness in the form of equality is considered fundamental to the democratic principles of the United States as embedded in the second paragraph of the United States' Declaration of Independence.An implied, innate state of sameness among "We hold these truths to all people has been made an arguing point by those who prescribe to a more be self-evident, that all individualistic worldview. Attempts to address inequality may be countered with arguments about the "fairness"of our efforts. men are Created equal, But equality is only achieved when every unique need is addressed and people that they are endowed with differing needs are included in the decision-making process, not as cosigners by their Creator with but as co-creators, resulting in the equal outcomes, despite different starting certain unalienable points. A slightly different way of thinking about this is that true equality can only be achieved with genuine equity. Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty The Concept of Equity Equity is one of those words that seems to trigger emotions from some who believe and the pursuit of that somehow their rights are being infringed upon. Many people prefer to see Happiness."