Distributive Justice and Transportation Equity: Inequality in accessibility in Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

The accessibility impacts of transport policies have important implications for social inequalities and for the promotion of just and inclusive cities. However, in the transportation literature, there is still little theoretically informed understanding of justice and what it means in the context of transport policies. This research builds on theories of distributive justice and examines how they can guide the evaluation of transport policies and plans. A justice framework is applied to evaluate the transport legacy of recent sports mega-events in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) related to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games, which included a substantial expansion of the rail and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) infrastructure.