VTC staff led by David Aimen, with support from Charles Brown and Catherine Bull provided subject matter expertise for the development of a FREE new web-based training course, the Fundamentals of Environmental Justice, issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Institute. This free 4-hour online course should be of interest to transportation practitioners working at a range of organizations, including State Departments of Transportation, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, local transportation agencies, and consulting firms.
The training course is recommended for data analysts, planners, project-development specialists, environmental specialists, civil rights specialists, consultants, and professionals in other roles that may require knowledge of environmental justice and transportation. Others may also benefit from the course, particularly those who interact with minority and/or low-income communities such as community and advocacy-based organizations, appointed and elected officials and representatives.
The course reminds participants that environmental justice applies to each stage of transportation decision making. 
Course materials present a variety of strategies and resources for considering EJ throughout the transportation decision-making process.
Participants who complete the course will be able to:
- Describe the background of EJ as related to transportation and decision making.
- Identify definitions, principles, and benefits related to EJ.
- Describe the importance of public involvement in the transportation decision-making process.
- Describe EJ considerations in the transportation planning process.
- Describe EJ considerations in environmental review and design.
- Describe EJ considerations related to the right of way phase of transportation decision making.
- Identify EJ considerations during construction, operations, and maintenance
VTC partnered with ICF Consulting in the development of this new online course. For more information or to sign up for the FREE course, click here.