Transportation and Civil Rights

The group has issued a new report on the subject titled "Where We Need to Go: A Civil Rights Roadmap for Transportation Equity."

"The way the conference sees it, access to transportation is key to connecting the poor, seniors and those with disabilities to jobs, schools, health care and other resources. It is essential to widening opportunities for all. Many of us take our mobility for granted, but getting around can be a real challenge for millions of Americans.

This is a key issue as Congress considers the surface transportation reauthorization bill, which essentially maps out federal transportation spending and priorities for the next six years.

"Smart and equitable transportation systems connect us to jobs, schools, housing, health care services - and even to grocery stores and nutritious food," Wade Henderson, president and CEO of the conference, said in testimony presented to the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee. "But millions of low-income and working-class people, people of color and people with disabilities live in communities where quality transportation options are unaffordable, unreliable, or nonexistent.""