Background
One in three Texans do not have reliable access to a car. Because the state’s public investment in transportation in Texas supports car-centered transportation infrastructure nearly exclusively, many Texans struggle daily with what often seems like "no-brainer" routine travel to those with a car: travel to work, medical services, the grocery, child care, and other basic trips. Of that population, the majority are individuals with disabilities, persons 65 years of age or older, and those with incomes below the federal poverty line. While some public resources have been invested in providing alternative transportation services, such as paratransit, Medicaid transportation, or fixed-route public transit, these services rarely prove to be viable alternatives for efficiently meeting the day-to-day travel needs of those who cannot or do not drive. Where they exist, services are often sparse, uncoordinated, available only to strictly-defined "eligible" populations, and limited in their geographic scope.

While continuing to invest in a system that underserves more than 30% of the state's population is not equitable, neither is creating three distinct systems, each designed to meet the special needs of only one sector of the larger population that cannot or does not drive. However, the extent to which the state’s transportation infrastructure is not meeting the travel needs of Texans is not restricted only to those who cannot use it, but is also shared by those who can and do. Like those who cannot or do not drive, drivers are also increasingly experiencing first-hand the capacity limits of the state's car-centered framework. As congestion, air pollution, and sprawl increase, Texans consistently rank "traffic problems" as the most pressing issue their community faces, a problem for which a meaningful resolution will require significant shifts in public policy, planning, resource allocation, and investment.

Only by pursuing the common outcome that these interest groups, drivers and non-drivers, share – the development of an accessible, affordable transportation system that provides mobility and options – will a sufficient base of support for systems change emerge. In the absence of a coordinated effort to develop this equitable system, change is highly unlikely.

Efforts to lay the foundations and mobilize the constituencies who want change are underway. The Just Transportation Alliances is building local advocacy teams that will champion the development of an accessible, equitable transportation system. Alliance activities have begun in San Antonio and Fort Worth with efforts to launch Alliances in Tyler, Houston, and Laredo currently underway. Beginning in June, 2002, Alliance organizations will be seeded in El Paso, San Angelo, and Brownsville. While each of these communities faces a different array of transportation resources, needs, and opportunities for solutions, the effort to build local alliances utilizes a common approach with an emphasis on engaging citizens in agenda-setting, advocacy, and action. Initially identifying and recruiting individuals with disabilities, persons age 65 or older, those with low income, their families, and other allies, the alliances provides training and initial seed money to build a broad, diverse, and skilled network of community members, agencies, governments, organizations, and businesses linked by a common interest in changing or promoting transportation solutions.

Because each community faces different challenges and has varying resources, not only are the agendas and strategic action plans developed by the members for their own community, they are designed to fit their own community and circumstances.

Because systems change, particularly in transportation, is a "big picture" effort, local Alliances are being built for the long-term.

To facilitate efforts locally and build for sustained advocacy, JTAP will "seed" each Alliance by subsidizing a part-time Coordinator, as well as providing data, training, technical assistance, and fundraising support for two years. To build the capacity needed for long-term change and to identify necessary changes in statewide policy, each local Alliance will be integrated into the Just Transportation Alliance’s Statewide Advocacy Network.

The efforts and success of the Alliances will benefit, as well, from the input of a diverse, talented Advisory Board, as well as from the findings of an independent project evaluator.