SCTA and RCPA recognize that social, environmental and economic inequities disproportionately affect communities of color and low-income communities, and that reliable, affordable transportation for all users is necessary to ensure access to jobs, housing, and services.
SCTA and RCPA recognize a responsibility to serve these historically marginalized communities more fully, in terms of mobility, climate impacts, and infrastructure. To do so, we must design policies that address historic and existing inequities.
The mission of SCTA and RCPA is to work as a collaborative agency of the cities and County of Sonoma to maintain and improve our transportation network and address climate change by prioritizing, coordinating, and maximizing available funding, and to provide comprehensive, countywide planning, while recognizing the diverse needs within our county.
SCTA and RPCA are committed to advancing equity[1] and anti-racism[2] in transportation and climate plans by integrating them into our practices, processes, plans, and decisions. To that end, SCTA and RCPA commit to:
- Community engagement practices that recognize, actively solicit and incorporate regular input from a diverse set of residents, including people who are most impacted by systemic inequities.
- Attract, recruit, and retain a diverse set of people for our staff, consultants, and advisory committees to more effectively represent the entirety of our community.
- Assess the concept of equity criteria to incorporate into funding formulas, recognizing equity issues are present in all jurisdictions.[3]
- Hold ourselves accountable by reporting regularly to the public on our progress as we work to fulfill the commitments made here.
- Consider this a living document, using it as a guide for decision making; revisiting and refining it regularly, in conjunction with the community, to ensure that it remains relevant, viable, and forward-looking.
