Suggested Citation:
Jahan, Musharrat, Candace Brakewood, Susan Pike, Kari Watkins (2025)

Mind the Gender Gap: Case Studies of U.S. Transit Agency Policies and Design Guidelines for Gender-Inclusive Transit Planning

This research investigates current transit design practices and agency policies through the lens of gender-inclusivity, identifying the disparities between men and women. Women typically engage in shorter, more complex trips owing to caregiving and household responsibilities, and thus face additional challenges like unsafe transit settings and inadequate accommodations for strollers and belongings. This study employs a qualitative case study approach, including interviews with staff from nine transit agencies to learn about their present and future practices, and an analysis of five transit design and operations manuals to study their recommendations and standards. Key findings revealed progress in gender-sensitive data collection and design, but barriers like resource constraints and a lack of priority still remained. Agencies like Los Angeles Metro, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority have made notable advancements, with several others following suit. However, the explicit incorporation of gender-sensitive principles in widely used transit design manuals is often lacking. The study concludes that continued commitment coupled with innovative approaches could overcome existing barriers and enhance gender-inclusivity in transit systems.