Title VI Compliance Information
Everyone in Lancaster County has a right to our support in their ability to walk, roll, ride, or drive. We follow Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. It protects you from being discriminated against by race, color, or national origin. If you believe you have been denied the benefits of our work on the basis of a protected status, you can file a complaint. They can be sent to a number of federal offices. See these forms to learn how to file a complaint.
How could we make this site or our information more accessible to you or your community?
Contact:
Will Clark, AICP
Director for Land Use & Transportation
Lancaster County Planning Department
150 N. Queen Street, Suite 320
Lancaster, PA 17603
WClark@co.lancaster.pa.us
(717) 299-8333
Environmental Justice
The health of a neighborhood can be impacted by the things we build there. A nearby park could help you stay active. But if a factory is built near your house, the air you breathe will be more dirty. Sites like landfills, highways, and factories do steady harm to people nearby. History shows that these sites have been built more often in minority and low income communities. Environmental Justice calls for the end of this uneven harm.
The Lancaster County MPO supports Environmental Justice. We have a duty to plan with our community for the good of all residents. With this approach we limit harm placed on minority and low income populations. We use federal models to define these two groups:
Minority - any person belonging to one or more of the following identities:
Black
Hispanic
Asian
American Indian/Alaskan Native
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander
as defined in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Policy Directive 15, Revisions to the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity, issued in 1997.
Low Income - any person whose household income meets poverty guidelines as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Our current Environmental Justice practices are based on a review of upcoming road projects. We look at the location of our projects to check that we are meeting the needs of these communities. We keep a four year list of projects called the Transportation Improvement Program, or TIP. Below, you can see a map of where our TIP projects are located for 2021-2024. We can see if they are in places with minority or low income populations.
2021-2024 TIP Projects in relation to Census Blocks with higher than average Minority and Low-income populations
Over 70% of the TIP budget is for projects in places that have significant low income or minority populations. Many of the projects will improve the safety of nearby routes. Traffic will be reduced, which has the effect of lowering local car emissions. Bridges and roads will be in better condition. Construction can be a pain to deal with. However, we expect no long term harm from the 2021 TIP.
We are working to expand our Environmental Justice efforts. The first step is to talk with more members of minority and low income communities. The relationship between our work and the effects on a community should be well known. We aim to improve access to this info. Want to be part of our decision making process? Join us for one of our Public Meetings or check our Get Involved section for any public comment opportunities.