Advancing Transportation Justice: The Impact of Minority Representation Across Federal and State Agencies

Abstract

Objective: This study extends the theory of representative bureaucracy into the underexplored domain of transportation and infrastructure by examining how minority representation within government agencies affects road safety outcomes for Black, Hispanic, and Asian populations. Methods: Using state-level data from 2005 to 2019, we analyze whether minority representation in transportation-related government functions improves traffic safety for minority groups. We also investigate whether intergovernmental representation—minority representation across both federal and state levels—amplifies these effects. Results: Our findings show that minority representation enhances traffic safety outcomes, although the magnitude and pattern of effects vary across racial and ethnic groups and are not limited to co-ethnic populations. Intergovernmental minority representation significantly reduces traffic fatalities among Black populations, suggesting a synergistic effect when minority bureaucrats are present at both the federal and state levels. For Hispanic and Asian populations, intergovernmental representation is associated with broader benefits for the overall minority population rather than improvements confined to their co-ethnic groups, indicating the presence of spillover effects. Conclusion: These findings advance the theory of representative bureaucracy by highlighting both the group-specific and broader equity-enhancing impacts of minority representation and underscore the importance of intergovernmental collaboration in promoting transportation justice.