The Fair Access in Communities Tool (FACT) was formerly known as the Environmental Justice Index (EJI) and has evolved significantly in both content and presentation. These changes reflect updated practices in nondiscrimination analysis and improved digital tools for accessing and interpreting data.

Updated map symbology
A new bivariate color scheme shows both population characteristics and density.

1. Color hue indicates protected population type:
• Yellow for low-income
• Blue for minority
• Green for both
2. Color intensity reflects population density:
• Deeper saturation = higher density
• Lighter shades = lower density

The FACT is a preliminary screening tool, not a comprehensive analysis. Areas that fall below a pre-determined threshold for Total Minority or Low-Income populations may still include individuals who are vulnerable to transportation impacts.

Clicking block groups on the map produces a pop-up display or displays describing demographic data associated with the layer or layers that have been selected. When the “Minority Population and/or Population Below Poverty Above Regional Percentage” layer is selected, the default pop-up displays information for these demographics. When enabled, supplemental layers have their own pop-ups that are displayed along with the default pop-up.

Note that when the map is zoomed out, clicking the map will often display pop-ups for multiple block groups. In areas with a dense block group structure, zoom in to ensure only the block group of interest is being selected. When multiple pop-ups are produced (either by identifying more than one block group or when more than one layer is enabled), small arrows appear at the top of the pop-up dialog box that allow the user to navigate back and forth among the displayed pop-ups.

Minority Population - Includes individuals who identify their race as any race other than white, or who identify their ethnicity as Hispanic or Latino

Population Below Poverty - Includes individuals whose household income in the past 12 months was below 125 percent of the US Census poverty threshold. This is inclusive of individuals whose household income in the past 12 months was below the US Department of Health and Human Services poverty threshold Population Density - The number of people per square mile of land area in a block group, as reported in the 2014-2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Hispanic or Latino - Includes individuals who identify their ethnicity as belonging to Mexican; Puerto Rican; Cuban; Dominican; Salvadoran; Guatemalan; Argentinean; Colombian; Spaniard; or other Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish cultures or origins, regardless of race

Black or African American - Includes individuals who identify their race as Black or African American and individuals who identify their race as Black or African American and identify their ethnicity as Hispanic or Latino

Asian - Includes individuals who identify as having origins in any of the original people of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent and individuals who identify their race as Asian and their ethnicity as Hispanic or Latino

American Indian or Alaska Native - Includes individuals who identify their race as American Indian or Alaska Native and individuals who identify their race as American Indian Alaskan Native and their ethnicity as Hispanic or Latino

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander - Includes individuals who identify as having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands and individuals who identify their race as Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander and identify their ethnicity as Hispanic or Latino

Total LEP - Individuals age 5 years and older who do not speak English as their primary language and who reported that their ability to read, speak, write, or understand English is less than “very well”

LEP Spanish - Individuals age 5 years and older who speak Spanish as their primary language and who reported that their ability to read, speak, write, or understand English is less than “very well”

LEP Indo-European - Individuals age 5 years and older who speak an Indo-European language other than Spanish as their primary language and who reported that their ability to read, speak, write, or understand English is less than “very well”

LEP Asian - Individuals age 5 years and older who speak an Asian or Pacific Island language as their primary language and who reported that their ability to read, speak, write, or understand English is less than “very well”

LEP Other - Individuals age 5 years and older who speak a language other than English, Spanish, Indo-European, Asian, or Pacific Island as their primary language and who reported that their ability to read, speak, write, or understand English is less than “very well” Age 65 and Over - Any individual aged 65 and older

Zero Car Household - The number of housing units that have no vehicle available

Female Head of Household - Includes any household with children under 18 years of age and with no husband present

Persons with Disabilities - Any civilian, non-institutionalized individual with at least one disability that may limit the individual’s ability to care for himself or herself

No Internet Access - The number of housing units that have no internet access at home

Layer	Regional Percentage
Total Black or African American	16.11%
Total American Indian or Alaska Native	0.60%
Total Asian	7.78%
Total Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	0.11%
Hispanic or Latino	29.29%
Total Some Other Race	7.98%
Total Two or More Races	14.5%
Total Minority	56.7%
Low-Income/Below Poverty	14.02%
Persons with Disabilities	10.13%
Age 65 and Over	11.97%
Female Head of Household	8.03%
Zero Car Households	4.7%
LEP Total	11.1%
LEP Spanish	8.24%
LEP Asian Language	1.61%
LEP Other Indo-European Language	0.79%
LEP Other Language	0.46%
Households with No Internet Access at Home	5.37%

Download Raw Data

• FACT Data Download Package
• FACT Raw Data – Block Groups (NCTCOG Open Data)
• FACT Raw Data – Tracts (NCTCOG Open Data)

Note: If downloads do not begin automatically, right click on the link and select "Save Link As".

Nondiscrimination at NCTCOG

• www.nctcog.org/titlevi

Federal Resources

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• 23 Code of Federal Regulations Part 200—Title VI Program and Related Statutes
• USDOT Title VI Requirements and Guidelines for FTA Recipients
• FHWA Title VI Toolkit

For questions or comments about the Fair Access in Communities Tool, contact NCTCOG Transportation: transinfo@nctcog.org

For issues or technical questions about this application, contact Cabe Cupit: jcupit@nctcog.org