CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr., has been selected as co-chair of the Equity in Infrastructure Project (EIP), marking a significant stride for diversity in infrastructure. This assignment provides a platform to evaluate the advancements made by the EIP and Carter's ambition to expand the role of Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs) within the infrastructure sector according to the Chicago Transit Authority.
The EIP was established prior to the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, IIJA as per Congress.gov. As a national leader, the EIP's mission is to utilize infrastructure expenditures to create generational wealth in underserved communities, aiming to reduce racial wealth gaps. The EIP seeks to significantly increase contract opportunities for HUBs, allowing them to participate in large-scale projects as prime contractors, joint venture partners, or equity participants.
As co-chair, Carter's dedication to equity is evident in his being one of the original Five Signatories of the EIP pledge. For the past two years, the CTA has been involved in propagating the project, sharing insights from local initiatives implemented by its Diversity Programs Department. Consequently, several national models have been established for adoption by transit and transportation entities and cities throughout the U.S.
The EIP has made significant progress, especially following the IIJA. It introduced the EIP Pledge, a cooperative effort among transit authorities intended to increase contract opportunities for HUBs by improving access and minimizing obstacles to business competition. In fact, the commitment to equity extends beyond regional boundaries, as demonstrated by the memorandum of understanding signed by the CTA and SEPTA earlier this year to develop a unique interstate certification program for Small Business Enterprise, SBE as per the CTA.
The proposed scheme would enable SBEs to compete as potential prime contractors for small business set-aside contracts with both the CTA and SEPTA after a single certification. It promises to open up opportunities that were previously inaccessible. Its potential to serve as a model for other public transport agencies signals a move towards more inclusive and equitable contract markets for the numerous SBEs involved. Furthermore, the term “HUBs” used by the EIP includes Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs), Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs), and other business classes used at the local level in the U.S. to support underutilized firms.
CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr., being named the EIP co-chair lends to the feasibility of the national group's objectives. Carter's efforts to foster a diverse and vibrant transit landscape by including HUBs can be expected to revitalize the mission and propel more equitable infrastructure development.
