Environmental Justice Index Mapping Tool

A Brief History Protected Populations Mapped Individually Communities of Concern Map Staff Wanted a Methodology that Relied on Academic Research Staff Began Work with RIS on New Mapping Technique Additional Research on Mapping Techniques Emphasis on Minority and Low-Income Populations

Previous Goals for Mapping Techniques A Tool to Identify EJ Populations which will Enhance the Decision Making Process A Method to Identify Disadvantaged Communities that is: Consistent: same methodology used every time Efficient: Data housed in central location for quick access Dynamic: easily updated as new census data is available Comprehensive: additional layers available for further analysis

Previous Challenges for Mapping Techniques No Standard Methodologies Across MPOs, DOTs, or Federal Agencies Meet Needs of Diverse Projects and Program Areas Questions What variables do we use? How do we break them down or rank them? Do we combine protected classes? If so, then how?

Assumptions of EJI Methodology Populations Used in the Basic EJI are Only the Federally Mandated (E.O. 12898) Low-Income and Minority Populations Index that Incorporates Density, Income, and Minority Status This is a Tool to Indentify EJ Populations as a Step in the Analysis Process and Not the Entirety of the Analysis

Environmental Justice Index Methodology Based on NCHRP Report 532 “Effective Methods for Environmental Justice” Recommended this method for regional transportation analysis Mapped by Census Block Groups Index of Three Variables Population Density Percent Below poverty Percent Minority Scores are Multiplied for a Possible Score of 1-100

Basic EJI Methodology Basic EJI Population/BG Area Density of block Group (DVPOP) Population/BG Area Assigned Density Score Based Low-Income (DVECO) Low-Income/Total Pop Compared to Regional Average Assigned Low-Income Score Minority (DVMAV) All Minority Populations Aggregated Total Minority/Total Population Assigned Minority Score Basic EJI

How Variables are Scored for Basic EJI Population Density (DVPOP) Percent Below Poverty and Minority (DVECO, DVMAV) Population Per Square Mile Score >0 and <=200 1 >200 and <=1,000 2 >1,000 and <=5,000 3 > 5,000 4 Percent Minority & Low-Income Score <= Regional Average (RA) 1 > RA and <=1.33 X RA 2 >1.33 X RA and <=1.66 X RA 3 >1.66 X RA and <= 2.0 X RA 4 >2.0 X RA 5

EJI Map

Dallas and Fort Worth

Adding Additional Populations Need for Analysis of Additional Populations in Specific Program Areas NCHRP Report Suggests that Additional Variables can be Added as Needed Report gave no methodology for adding additional populations Added the Ability to Incorporate Over 65 and Disabled in EJI Did not Weight the Additional Populations the Same as 3 Basic EJI Variables

Expanded EJI Methodology Density of block Group Population/BG Area Assigned DVPOP Score Based Low-Income Low-Income/Total Pop Compared to Regional Average Assigned DVPOP Score Minority All Minority Populations Aggregated Total Minority/Total Pop Assigned DVMAV Score Disabled Disabled Persons/Total Pop Assigned DVDIS Score Over 65 Over 65/Total Population Assigned DVSixtyFive Score Basic EJI Expanded EJI

Scoring Additional Variables Percent Disabled or Over 65 Score <= Regional Average (RA) > RA and <=1.33 X RA >1.33 X RA and <=1.66 X RA 5 >1.66 X RA and <= 2.0 X RA 10 >2.0 X RA 15 Variables Calculation EJI Range Basic EJI: Density, Minority, Low-Income DVPOP X DVMAV X DVECO 1-100 Basic EJI & Disabled DVPOP X DVMAV X DVECO + DVDIS 1-115 Basic EJI & Over 65 DVPOP X DVMAV X DVECO + DVSixtyFive Basic EJI, Over 65 & Disabled DVPOP X DVMAV X DVECO + DVDIS + DVSixtyFive 1-130

SAS Script that calculates the scores Block group data stored in SQL GIS Tool

All Populations

How do the Maps Change? Allowing Flexibility Enables Users to Tailor Needs of the Project Added Flexibility Requires Users to Think Critically About what Variables are Appropriate for Identification Adding Variables Changes Scoring Scale and Mapped Results The possible EJI score is from 1-130

Basic EJI

EJI+Over 65

EJI+Disabled

EJI+Over 65+Disabled

Validating and Investigating Results NCHRP Report Provided no Background on How the Specific Methodology and Scoring Criteria were Established Staff Wanted to Know why Criteria was Used and How it Impacted the Results

Validating Results: Population Density 4 3 2 1

Difference in Maps