Transportation Enhancement Program funds help the Harlem community participate in a design process that improves the public streetscape through new lighting, tree planting, pedestrian-friendly design, and murals celebrating the community's cultural heritage. To ensure the full and fair participation by all potentially affected communities in the transportation decision-making process. To prevent the denial of, reduction in, or significant delay in the receipt of benefits by minority and low-income populations. The recipients of Federal-aid have been required to certify and the U.S. DOT must ensure nondiscrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and many other laws, regulations, and policies. In 1997, the Department issued its DOT Order to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations to summarize and expand upon the requirements of Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice.
Environmental justice is more than a set of legal and regulatory obligations.
Properly implemented, environmental justice principles and procedures improve all levels of transportation decision making. Design transportation facilities that fit more harmoniously into communities. Improve data collection, monitoring, and analysis tools that assess the needs of, and analyze the potential impacts on minority and low-income populations. Partner with other public and private programs to leverage transportation-agency resources to achieve a common vision for communities. Avoid disproportionately high and adverse impacts on minority and low-income populations.