How do you incorporate equity and sustainability goals into travel demand forecasting and planning?

1 Define your equity and sustainability objectives

Before you start forecasting and planning, you need to define what equity and sustainability mean for your context and stakeholders. Equity is the fair distribution of benefits and burdens of transportation across different groups of people, such as income, race, gender, age, ability, or location. Sustainability is the balance of environmental, social, and economic aspects of transportation, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing livability, and supporting economic development. You can use frameworks such as the triple bottom line, the social determinants of health, or the sustainable development goals to guide your objectives.

2 Collect and analyze disaggregated data

To incorporate equity and sustainability goals into your forecasting and planning, you need to collect and analyze data that reflect the diversity and complexity of travelers and their travel behavior. You can use surveys, census, administrative, or big data sources to gather information on the characteristics, preferences, needs, constraints, and impacts of different groups of travelers. You can also use methods such as disaggregate modeling, scenario analysis, or sensitivity testing to capture the heterogeneity and uncertainty of travel demand and supply.

3 Engage and empower stakeholders

Another key aspect of incorporating equity and sustainability goals into your forecasting and planning is to engage and empower stakeholders who are affected by or interested in transportation decisions. You can use participatory methods such as workshops, focus groups, interviews, surveys, or online platforms to involve stakeholders in defining problems, identifying solutions, evaluating alternatives, and monitoring outcomes. You can also use tools such as equity analysis, impact assessment, or multi-criteria analysis to communicate and compare the trade-offs and implications of different options for different groups of stakeholders.

4 Adapt and innovate your methods and tools

Finally, to incorporate equity and sustainability goals into your forecasting and planning, you need to adapt and innovate your methods and tools to reflect the changing needs and expectations of travelers and society. You can use approaches such as adaptive planning, learning-based planning, or co-creation to continuously monitor, evaluate, and update your forecasts and plans based on new data, feedback, or insights. You can also use technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, or simulation to enhance your forecasting and planning capabilities and outcomes.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?