Committee helps agencies achieve meaningful outcomes in transportation equity, environmental justice and equitable economic opportunities
SACRAMENTO – California state transportation agencies announced today an open call for applicants to serve on the interagency Equity Advisory Committee, which first convened last year in partnership between the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), the California Transportation Commission (Commission), and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The 15-member Equity Advisory Committee advises each agency on how to achieve meaningful outcomes in transportation equity, environmental justice, and equitable economic opportunities, especially in transportation planning and programming. Applications for at least two open seats are due Feb. 4.
“The Equity Advisory Committee is already making a difference by providing a unique perspective on the state’s transportation policies and programs,” said CalSTA Secretary Toks Omishakin. “I encourage all interested Californians to apply to join the committee and continue this important work.”
“The Commission appreciates the work of Equity Advisory Community members over the last year in making our billions of dollars of transportation investments more equitable. We encourage Californians from throughout our diverse state to apply. This work is critically important for us as we continue to address historic inequities and advance environmental justice,” said Commission Chair Lee Ann Eager.
“During its inaugural year, the Equity Advisory Committee established a strong foundation for how we uplift community voices in our work and strive for a more equitable transportation system. I encourage Californians from across the state to apply for an opportunity to join this transformative Committee,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares.
Newly elected Committee Chair William Walker added that “now is a pivotal time to become a member of the Equity Advisory Committee as California grapples with questions such as how to reduce vehicle trips, make roads safer for active transportation modes, electrify the vehicle fleet, and reverse the negative impacts of transportation infrastructure upon underserved and underrepresented groups. Help us by becoming a part of that change.”
Members of the Equity Advisory Committee 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, people with disabilities, older adults, youth, low-income, and unhoused individuals in California.
Committee members serve two-year 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 includes 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/MZXiGf1Tmb
Interested applicants can also access the application using the following QR code:
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/X @CA_Trans_Agency
CTC: http://www.catc.ca.gov/, on Twitter/X @California_CTC
Caltrans: https://dot.ca.gov/, on Twitter/X @CaltransHQ
###