Better Buses Equity Assessment Project - Recommendations for New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT)

Abstract

The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) initiated the Better Buses Action Plan in 2019 to improve the speed of buses throughout New York City (NYC) by 25% and increase the number of bus riders by the end of 2020. Although the COVID-19 crisis impacted these plans, DOT launched the Better Buses Restart Program. NYU’s team evaluated DOT’s proj ect selection methodology through an equity lens to determine if DOT’s Better Buses projects are equitably distributed and assess whether DOT could do more to reach equity populations. The team conducted a comparative analysis of equity initiatives in other US cities, analyzed the needs of equitable populations, and evaluated how to serve these populations through its project selection, planning, engagement, and evaluation practices. The team conducted stakeholder outreach through the distribution of a survey as well as a roundtable discussion. Furthermore, the team developed interactive maps to visualize the priority bus routes with demographics by census tract to show existing disparities in transportation experiences for equity populations within NYC. The final report includes recommendations for how to improve the inclusion of equity in the better buses program.