MTS Social Equity Listening Tour

Pueblo Planning facilitated the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System’s (MTS) Social Equity Listening Tour, a public engagement effort aiming to understand the experiences of transit riders and to take steps in addressing issues of inequity in transit. The project was designed to identify local communities’ top transit priorities with regard to inequities in transit service, operations, amenities, and programs. Pueblo Planning facilitated fifteen workshops (both virtual and in-person) and pop ups throughout the MTS service area. As part of these efforts, Pueblo Planning intentionally included and prioritized core transit riders most impacted by MTS decisions regarding service, policies, budgets, and design to co-develop recommendations. Pueblo Planning partnered with five community-based organizations (CBOs) to engage with intentional communities, including people with disabilities, low-wealth Black communities and communities of color, the elderly, youth, people who are unhoused or facing housing insecurity, immigrants, refugees, and binational migrants.

Prior to engaging community members, Pueblo Planning conducted a thorough historical analysis of news reports, public comments, and previous planning efforts to gain a deep understanding of the collective experience of transit ridership in the MTS service area. Subsequently, Pueblo Planning engaged with various intentional communities throughout MTS’ service area to learn about their transportation experiences and to understand their visions for a joyful and just transit experience. Keeping historical context in mind while analyzing and synthesizing community commentary from the ten engagement workshops, three community pop-ups, and two MTS committee conversations Pueblo Planning showcased a holistic view of the top identified priorities and incorporated details from historical archives and previous community advocacy efforts alongside current community narrative. Pueblo Planning also highlights the historically repetitive nature of mentioned community priorities that have created planning fatigue for some over the years; and along with the historical references, acknowledged ongoing community advocacy efforts to further contextualize the community priorities identified through the Social Equity Listening Tour. The Social Equity Listening Tour aims to build a different experience and a pathway towards visible change, particularly regarding matters highlighted as concerns around equity. The overall vision is to not only create a joyful and just transit experience in the future, but to also ensure respectful and dignified transit experiences with ongoing community engagement and transparency.