ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses some aspects of transportation equity that move beyond the standard transportation equity framework. Transportation equity is rooted in environmental racism and environmental justice and, over the several years, has focused primarily on racial discrimination. The significance of hiring local residents to work in the transportation construction industry extends beyond a particular construction project. Collection of transportation data often fails to include individuals with limited ability to communicate in English. Native Americans are a distinct example of an underserved population suffering from most, if not all, of the ill effects associated with transportation inequities. Motor vehicle deaths among Native Americans are substantially higher than for the rest of the nation's residents. Racial profiling includes the alleged practice by police officers of stopping African American and Hispanic drivers because of their color, using legitimate law enforcement goals as a pretext. Another benefit received by tribes, in distinction from other racial and ethnic groups, is Indian preference in employment.
