ABSTRACT
Social equity, sometimes called social justice, refers to the equitable distribution of benefits and burdens in society. There are many social equity theories. The government websites of Spain, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa also reveal that policy makers are responding to the transport and social equity agenda. In the following section, the UK and the US be used as examples to illustrate how policies have evolved from efficiency oriented towards transport equity. Transport disadvantage is closely related to the trend of car dependence and the downward trend in bus and transit use. Compared with private vehicles, railways have the characteristics of public transport, which are more affordable and available for socially disadvantaged groups. For instance, the Twin Cities region of Minnesota and Saint Paul in US is constructing a Central Corridor Light Rail Line (CCLRT). It is an 11-mile transit corridor with diverse racial communities.
