Mobilizing Justice Wins SSHRC Partnership Grant!

Transportation barriers limit the opportunities for many Canadians to participate in jobs, healthcare, and social services. These limitations exacerbate the problems faced by disadvantaged households and create a feedback loop known as transportation-related social exclusion (TRSE). Transportation barriers will worsen social inequalities as population growth, gentrification, and unaffordability continue to push disadvantaged populations to the peripheries of cities, where it is difficult to provide effective transit and active travel options. The risks of TRSE have been magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic, with disparate impacts of the disease reinforcing many prevailing urban inequalities.  

Mobilizing Justice is a multidisciplinary and multi-sector partnership that will build sustainable connections for research and knowledge exchange to solve transportation poverty problems in Canadian cities and mobilize findings into action. Over 5 years, we will conduct the first national systematic study to measure and describe the Canadian population living with transport poverty (simultaneous socioeconomic and transport disadvantages). Mobilizing Justice is an unprecedented coalition of multi-sectoral partners and academic experts: 33 academics from 6 provinces and 2 states, 14 government agencies, 7 industry partners, and 7 non-profit organizations, all steadfastly committed to addressing transportation poverty.  

We will work together to achieve our primary goal of improving transport outcomes through evidence-based transportation equity research and produce: 

1. The first-ever assessment and compilation of community-led transport equity advocacy work; 
2. A national, large-sample survey of transport poverty (n=20,000); 
3. A comprehensive set of validated guidelines and processes for setting and meeting transportation equity goals within official plans and transportation business cases; and
4. A robust body of empirical evaluations of mobility technology and policy pilots which are designed to serve the needs of people experiencing transport poverty.