The City of Bend believes that we thrive when all individuals, from all parts of our City, have affordable and equitable access to a full range of transportation choices to meet their daily needs, including, but not limited to, employment, housing, healthcare, education, recreation, and shopping. The City recognizes that the transportation system has historically underserved some community members, and that their needs require particular attention as transportation investments, programs, and services are prioritized and funded. Those populations historically underserved by the transportation system include but are not limited to: people who cannot or choose not to drive (including children); persons with disabilities; people who cannot afford a motor vehicle; people living in areas where there are concentrations of impoverished and/or minority populations; and groups that have been subjected to racism and/or discrimination.

The City defines transportation equity as being achieved when all community members, with respect to age, race, disability, gender, income and location in the City have access to safe, comfortable, affordable, and reliable transportation choices to meet their daily transportation needs. Transportation equity helps ensure that disparities are reduced and access to daily needs and key destinations are fairly provided.

7-22    The City is committed to equitably distributing the benefits and costs of transportation system plans and improvements. The City will develop and support programs and projects, both capital and maintenance, that reduce transportation-related disparities faced by populations that have historically had significant unmet transportation needs or who have experienced disproportionately negative impacts from the existing transportation system.

7-23    The City will actively engage and support all community members in the City in transportation planning issues, outcomes and decisions and will emphasize active engagement and support of those who have been historically underserved.

7-24    The City will strive to avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse human health, economic, or environmental effects of transportation projects on those who have been historically underserved, especially in identified areas with concentrations of impoverished and/or minority populations.