Paving the Way for Equity in Infrastructure: Our Projects

There is an old adage that tells us: to know where we’re going, we have to know where we’ve been. Marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by inequity in the built environment, and addressing this requires prioritizing racial equity as well as social equity.

Acknowledging this when announcing $3 billion in funding to reconnect communities that had been bifurcated by modern infrastructure, the White House explained, “The Department of Transportation estimates that at least one million people and businesses were displaced by decades of harmful urban renewal projects and legacy policy decisions in the buildout of the Federal highway system.”

While the national highway system is an often-cited example of how we can learn from our past, it’s not the only example. I encourage you to read more about this topic in the American Society of Civil Engineers’ “Equity and Infrastructure” web series.

Knowing where we’ve been challenges all of us at GFT to strive to progress equity in infrastructure projects in the communities we serve, and we don’t take this responsibility lightly. In my last blog about equity within our workforce, I zeroed in on our dedication to:

• Developing an inclusive workplace culture and a diverse employee base.
• Actively promoting inclusive hiring and procurement practices.
• Collaborating with like-minded organizations to progress equity in infrastructure.

We understand the importance of addressing the built environment’s past failings while looking ahead to generate community benefits such as jobs, business opportunities, affordable housing, and access to public transportation, meeting the short- and long-term needs of the diverse groups living in the area.

For instance, the Tempo Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) links vibrant, diverse communities to jobs, schools, and retail centers in California’s East Bay region. Our team’s work helped boost public transit connectivity, reduce congestion, and provide residents and visitors with fast, reliable, and cost-effective public transportation.

Our team also partners with the New York City School Construction Authority to provide an equitable education for New York City children. We do so through projects like:

• Cultivating Hearts and Minds Pre-K Center design and conversion in the Bronx, pictured here.
• Brooklyn 3K Center at Flatbush Avenue school renovation in Brooklyn.

Pump Station 6 (PS-6), a cutting-edge wastewater collections facility for the Delaware County Regional Water Quality Control Authority in Chester, Pennsylvania, included the construction of a private access road to divert up to 1,800 waste-carrying trucks per week away from the surrounding blighted and underserved neighborhoods. This new road reduces traffic and noise impacts on the community, as well as wear and tear on residential streets.

Furthermore, the Valley Metro Rail South Central Extension in Phoenix, Arizona, is helping to connect residents of the historically underserved South Central Corridor to educational and activity centers, like downtown Phoenix, Arizona State University, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

The North Avenue Rising Penn-North Metro SubwayLink Station project in Baltimore, Maryland, involved an art installation reflecting the spirit and rich history of the local community.

The design of the Crenshaw/Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Transit Corridor project for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority incorporated elements reflecting the history and culture of the communities of color it serves. This included station artwork, architectural details, and naming stations after local icons, creating a sense of cultural pride.

Our Livonia Avenue Station mobility project in Brooklyn, New York, is a great example. To improve accessibility and create a safer passenger experience, our team worked with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (NYCT) to implement a comprehensive Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) station accessibility upgrade program that includes improvements to vertical transportation, stairways, and platforms. Before these vital improvements, passengers with limited mobility traveled more than two miles to the nearest ADA-accessible station.

For example, the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor light rail project involved extensive outreach to the predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods along the line. Our team used culturally sensitive communication, hired local liaisons, and held meetings in community centers to gather feedback and address concerns.

GFT functions as a champion for the communities our projects serve. This is also evident through projects like the Inglewood Transit Connector (ITC), a significant transit link located in an underserved community in southwestern Los Angeles County. The ITC is an elevated, automated people mover system that will provide last-mile connectivity between the LA Metro Crenshaw/LAX Line Station to the Kia Forum and SoFi Stadium entertainment complex. The project will enhance accessibility and mobility for an underserved and underrepresented community.

Early engagement with the public and stakeholders on various equity-related aspects of the ITC, such as communication with multilanguage end users, has been one key to providing a concise and technically viable project concept. Our team is helping the city deliver a first-class, innovative mode of transportation that will build stronger connections while being sensitive to the community’s needs.