News Updates

Supporting inclusive growth with land use and transportation shifts

Transportation infrastructure, access to employment, and socioeconomic factors each affect the daily commute patterns of the region’s residents. For residents of economically disconnected areas (EDAs) — parts of the region with concentrated low incomes, limited English proficiency residents, and/or minority residents — daily commutes can be particularly long. This affects job retention and success, as well as overall work quality. One of the recommendations in CMAP’s inclusive growth strategy paper is to improve commute times and options for residents in EDAs that face long commutes, which will require shifts in transportation, land use, and economic development planning and policy. 

This policy update illustrates several case studies that highlight the role transportation and land use play in linking EDA residents and residents of economically connected areas to jobs. To reduce commute disparities, local land use decisions should emphasize development patterns that maximize the effectiveness of local transit and transportation options. Further, integrated land use and transportation decision-making allows local governments to maximize benefits of investments and better meet community and resident needs. Finally, the region requires a sustainably funded transit system to improve and modernize the system, as well as provide strong commute access to the region’s economic centers.

This policy update is the third in a series examining the region’s economically disconnected areas (EDAs) and their transportation and commute challenges. The first update groups EDAs that are geographically, demographically, and economically similar and discusses trends across them. The second explores commute patterns and travel trends for workers residing in EDAs, identifying the clusters where commute disparities are highest. This update illustrates several case studies to highlight the role transportation and land use play in linking EDA and economically connected area residents to jobs.