Case Study:

San Francisco Bay Area, California

Methodology

Overall Approach

The purpose of the MTC's accessibility and equity analysis was to compare the impacts, by population group, of the 1998 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). Impacts were compared for the "RTP project" and "no project" alternatives. The project alternative included all committed plus "Track 1" projects identified in the RTP, while the "no project" alternative included only currently committed projects.

To evaluate the equity of the plan's impacts, MTC identified traffic analysis zones (TAZ) that could be characterized as having "disadvantaged" populations. These TAZs corresponded to disadvantaged neighborhoods as identified by a local group, the San Francisco-based Northern California Council for the Community (NCCC). Baseline accessibility levels were compared for disadvantaged TAZs versus other TAZs. Percent changes in accessibility with and without the RTP were also compared between the two population groups. Comparisons were made for three modes: transit, drive-alone automobile, and high-occupancy vehicle (HOV).

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