Law Commons^™

Inequities Of Transit Access: The Case Of Atlanta, Ga, Christopher K. Wyczalkowski, Timothy Welch, Obed Pasha

Journal of Comparative Urban Law and Policy

Public transportation systems are essential components of urban infrastructure, providing connectivity that contributes to the quality of life for urban dwellers. Particularly important for low-income populations, public transportation systems enhance access to jobs, markets, services, education, healthcare, recreation, and social networks. While low-income populations and minorities make up a disproportionately high share of transit ridership, theories such as spatial mismatch, social construction framework, and Critical Race Theory maintain that public transportation systems may not provide equitable connectivity to all riders. We utilize GIS and regression models to examine the relationship between transit connectivity and poverty, asking whether connectivity is evenly …