Transportation Equity Act
The Transportation Equity Act would re-establish a federal advisory group called the Transportation Equity Committee to provide independent, expert advice to the Secretary of Transportation on transportation equity. The committee would bring together a diverse mix of stakeholders (academia, community groups, industry, NGOs, state/local governments, Tribal governments, advocacy organizations, and indigenous groups) to help develop a strategic plan and national metrics related to how transportation policies and investments affect economic opportunity, connectivity, and public engagement. While the Secretary retains decision-making authority over transportation policy, the committee would assess DOT’s work to connect people to opportunities and revitalize communities, and would offer recommendations to improve equity across planning, design, research, policy, and program implementation. The act also creates a formal administrative framework, including a designated federal officer to manage the committee and a funding/support role for the DOT.
Key Points
- 1Establishes the Transportation Equity Advisory Committee within 120 days of enactment, with 9–15 members (an odd number) and a public, accessible meeting process; members must reflect broad, diverse representation including urban/rural, tribal, underserved communities, and related fields like housing, health care, and the environment.
- 2Directs the committee to provide independent advice to the Secretary on transportation equity and to develop a strategic plan with national transportation metrics, focusing on economic development, connectivity, and public engagement.
- 3Sets the committee’s duties to evaluate how DOT connects people to opportunities and revitalizes communities, while preserving final policy decisions with the Secretary; includes evaluating DOT activities across planning, research, policy, and engagement.
- 4Specifies meeting logistics and member terms: at least 2 meetings per year, public accessibility, ADA-compliant facilities, 2-year terms with up to 2 consecutive renewals, and replacement of non-active members after missing 3 consecutive meetings.
- 5Establishes administrative and legal framework: funding and support provided by the Office of the Under Secretary for Policy, the appointment of a full-time Designated Federal Officer to coordinate the committee, and the application of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) with an explicit exception for section 14.