‘Equity Resources for Action Toolbox’ Reveals Paths for Equitable Planning

The “Equity Resources for Action Toolbox” (ERA Toolbox) compiles practices, policies and strategies from local agencies and groups to address inequities in communities and census tracts with high concentrations of low-income populations and people of color. Case studies and examples from various agencies and organizations compiled in the ERA Toolbox address and respond to inequities within areas of mobility, community, environment and the economy—the four pillars of the Connect SoCal 2024 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy.  

For example, the mobility section of the ERA Toolbox outlines how patterns of racial segregation, gentrification and displacement have limited access to essential services and overall mobility for low-income households and communities of color before providing case studies and resources for transit-oriented development, complete streets and active transportation, safe routes and streets, and affordable and accessible transportation. 

Each section also includes a list of relevant general plan elements required by state law for local plans to address when planning for the long-term future. For example, mobility is addressed in the circulation, land use, conservation, safety, and noise elements of every jurisdiction’s general plan. 

Local government officials and community members can use this toolbox of resources to apply equitable methods while developing and implementing policies, projects, and programs and updating their general plan elements. 

Published in earlier form as the “Environmental Justice Toolbox,” the ERA Toolbox is a “living document,” with planned future editions building on this publication as practices and resources continue to develop and evolve. The ERA Toolbox draws from General Plan Guidelines published by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, the SB 1000 Implementation Toolkit developed by California Environmental Justice Alliance and PlaceWorks, and research on local and community-based organizations efforts conducted by SCAG staff.  

All recommendations are optional at the discretion of the user. Recommendations incorporating or referring to compliance with existing regulations are for informational purposes only and do not supersede existing regulations. If you would like to provide feedback or contribute an idea to the ERA Toolbox, please send an email to environmentaljustice@scag.ca.gov.

Download the full “Equity Resources for Action Toolbox” online.