CalSTA - California State Transportation Agency

08/08/2022 | Press release | Archived content

California state transportation agencies announce call for applicants for interagency Equity Advisory Committee

New joint committee will help agencies achieve meaningful outcomes in transportation equity, environmental justice and equitable economic opportunities

SACRAMENTO - California state transportation agencies today announced an open call for applicants to serve on an interagency Transportation Equity Advisory Committee, convened in partnership between the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), the California Transportation Commission (Commission) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The Equity Advisory Committee will advise each agency on how to achieve meaningful outcomes in transportation equity, environmental justice and equitable economic opportunities, especially in transportation planning and programming.

"When it comes to transportation, 'equity' isn't just some abstract concept - it's part of the fabric of everything we're doing to achieve our vision of a cleaner, safer, more accessible and more connected future for all Californians," said CalSTA Secretary Toks Omishakin. "This advisory committee will help guide CalSTA and our partners toward achieving that future."

"The Commission is excited to take this next step in advancing the goals laid out in our Racial Equity Statement," said Commission Chair Lee Ann Eager. "We look forward to working with our Equity Advisory Committee members and our partners at Caltrans and CalSTA to thoughtfully and respectfully address inequities in our transportation system caused by racial segregation and the historical disinvestment of transportation funds."

"The creation of the interagency Equity Advisory Committee will provide a forum where the community's voices will be respectfully heard and considered as California seeks to improve the state's transportation system by many measures including equity," said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares.

Members of the Equity Advisory Committee will review, advise, and make recommendations on transportation related plans, programs, and policies to CalSTA, the Commission, and Caltrans during open public meetings. Committee membership is intended to elevate diverse and historically marginalized voices, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, rural communities, women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual individuals, older adults, youth, low-income, and unhoused individuals in California.

Committee membership will consist of up to 15 members serving two-year staggered terms. Each member must be a resident of California and must clearly demonstrate a history of equity-centered personal or professional experience or community leadership, or be actively engaged in transportation equity, policy, programming, advocacy or related fields such as health, air quality, climate, housing justice, community development or socio-economic development.

The Committee will include experts representing tribal and indigenous communities, community-based organizations, climate and air quality organizations, housing and housing justice organizations, statewide environmental justice and equity organizations, individuals or organizations offering an accessibility and disability perspective, and community members reflecting different geographic areas of the state, especially rural areas.

To apply to participate on the Equity Advisory Committee, please visit the following website: https://forms.office.com/g/r7kzHkQcvT

Interested applicants can also utilize the following QR code to access the application:

To request a paper copy of the application, please call (916) 654-4245, or email [email protected]

For more information on the Equity Advisory Committee, please visit: https://catc.ca.gov/programs/equity-and-public-engagement

More information about the state transportation agencies may be found at:

CalSTA:https://calsta.ca.gov/, on Twitter @CA_Trans_Agency

CTC: http://www.catc.ca.gov/, on Twitter @California_CTC

Caltrans: https://dot.ca.gov/, on Twitter @CaltransHQ

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