U.S. Department of Transportation Equity Action Plan
The U.S. Department of Transportation’ (DOT’s) first Equity Action Plan was finalized in January 2022 in response to Executive Order (EO) 13985, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government”. It highlights work that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will undertake across four focus areas – wealth creation, power of community, interventions, and expanding access – to expand access and opportunity to all communities while focusing on underserved, overburdened, and disadvantaged communities. DOT's first Equity Action Plan was a major milestone for the Department of Transportation that represents a shift in how we view and deliver transportation programs. EO 14091, “Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government”, which was signed in February 2023, directs all federal agencies to update their Equity Action Plans by September 2023, and on an annual basis thereafter. The 2023 update of the Equity Action Plan highlighted metrics and actions that fall under five focus areas, or “Pillars”, including the four that are carried over from the original Equity Action Plan and one new “Institutionalizing Equity” pillar. The 2023 update of the Equity Action Plan advances equity in alignment with related EOs, including EO 13988, EO 14008, and EO 14020 and with DOT’s Equity and Access Policy Statement published in June 2022.
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Read the Equity Action Plan (2023)
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Read the Equity Action Plan (2022)
Read the Secretary’s message.
“Access to transportation is a basic necessity that all Americans need in order to thrive. But transportation– and the economic opportunities that come with both building and using America’s transportation systems— has not been equitably available to all in this country. Our Department is mindful of the importance of fair access to transportation, a powerful force for opportunity as Americans of all backgrounds in all kinds of communities seek safe and affordable means to get to work, school, and everywhere else we need to be. Ensuring equity and accessibility for every member of the traveling public is one of the Department of Transportation’s highest priorities.” – Secretary Pete Buttigieg
Learn About the Equity Action Plan
Equity Action Plan Focus Areas
- Wealth Creation
- Power of Community
- Proactive Intervention, Planning and Capacity Building
- Expanding Access
- Institutionalizing Equity
Additional Resources
- DOT's Equity activities
- Administration's Equity Agenda
- Government-wide Equity Efforts: Equity on Performance.gov
- Related Milestones Under Executive Order 13985, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government”:
Have an idea to help advance transportation equity? Want to partner on one of these actions? Email us at equity@dot.gov to share your thoughts.
Interested in hearing the latest on our equity work?