Sample Socio-economic Data for NEPA Documents

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Reference Map

Shows Census Blocks that intersect the Dowling Street Expansion project (red line) and a 100 foot buffer (yellow line) Note: you can make the buffer larger or smaller than 100 feet.

Population Trends

Census Geographies	1990 Population	2000 Population	% Change from 1990-2000	2007 Population	% Change from 2000-2007
Places
Houston city Texas	1,630,553	1,953,631	19.8	2,208,180	13.0
Counties
Harris County Texas	2,818,199	3,400,578	20.7	3,935,855	15.7
States
Texas	16,986,510	20,851,820	22.8	23,904,380	14.6
Sources: 1990 U.S. Census Data: SF1 Table: P001; U.S. Census 2000 Data: SF1 Table: P1; U.S.Census Data: Population Estimates Program Data 2007 Tables: States, Counties, and Cities & Towns

Population Projections

Census Geography	Year	Projection	% Change from 2007
Counties
Harris County Texas	2035	5,496,890	39.7
States
Texas	2035	33,789,697	41.4
Source(s): Texas State Data Center. "Population Projections for the State of Texas and Counties-Scenario 0.5." http://txsdc.utsa.edu/tpepp/2008projections/ (February 11, 2009).

Minority Races

Census Geographies2	Total Population	Black/ African American (%)	American Indian/ Alaska Native (%)	Asian (%)	Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander (%)	Other1 (%)	Hispanic or Latino (%)	Total Minority Races (%)
Blocks
48-201-312300-1-1044	1	100.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	100.0
48-201-312300-1-1047	2	100.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	100.0
48-201-312300-1-1048	49	77.6	0.0	6.1	0.0	0.0	16.3	100.0
48-201-312400-4-4002	57	98.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.8	100.0
48-201-312400-4-4003	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
48-201-312400-4-4010	7	100.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	100.0
Block Groups
48-201-312300-1	899	74.3	0.0	5.3	0.0	1.2	17.5	98.3
48-201-312400-4	854	83.4	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.2	13.6	98.2
Tracts
48-201-312300	2,569	81.3	< 0.1	2.6	< 0.1	1.2	12.3	97.4
48-201-312400	2,592	89.0	0.2	< 0.1	0.0	0.7	8.8	98.7
Places
Houston city Texas	1,953,631	25.0	0.2	5.3	< 0.1	1.4	37.4	69.3
Counties
Harris County Texas	3,400,578	18.2	0.2	5.1	< 0.1	1.4	32.9	57.8
States
Texas	20,851,820	11.3	0.3	2.7	< 0.1	1.2	32.0	47.6
Source: U.S. Census 2000 SF1 Table P8 1 Combines Census Table P8 categories 'Some other race alone' and 'Two or more races' 2 Small area Census geographies are named by their FIPS codes (State FIPS-County FIPS-Tract FIPS-Block group FIPS & Block FIPS).

Minority Populations and Environmental Justice

The US Department of Transportation Order on Environmental Justice (April 1997) defines a "minority" as a person who is Black, Hispanic, Asian American, or American Indian/Alaskan Native. "Minority population" is defined as "any readily identifiable groups of minority persons who live in geographic proximity, and if circumstances warrant, geographically dispersed/transient persons (such as migrant workers or Native Americans) who will be similarly affected by a proposed DOT program, policy or activity." Block data indicate that minorities live in the project area. Additional analyses are needed to determine if the project will result in disproportionately high and adverse effects to minorities and minority populations.

Income Data

Census Geographies1	Total Households	% of households with annual incomes			Median Household Income in 1999 ($USD)
		Less than $14,999 (%)	Between $15,000 - $19,999 (%)	Greater than $20,000 (%)
Block Groups
48-201-312300-1	362	46.1	11.3	42.5	17,059
48-201-312400-4	309	49.5	10.7	39.8	15,150
Tracts
48-201-312300	1,025	52.5	11.8	35.7	14,232
48-201-312400	1,057	51.3	13.0	35.8	14,418
Places
Houston city Texas	718,897	18.4	7.1	74.4	36,616
Counties
Harris County Texas	1,206,423	14.9	6.0	79.1	42,598
States
Texas	7,397,294	17.0	6.6	76.4	39,927
Source: U.S. Census 2000 SF3 Table P52, P53 1 Small area Census geographies are named by their FIPS codes (State FIPS-County FIPS-Tract FIPS-Block group FIPS & Block FIPS).

Census Geographies1	Total: Population for whom poverty status is determined	Population with Income in 1999 below poverty level (%)
Block Groups
48-201-312300-1	859	44.6
48-201-312400-4	852	43.7
Tracts
48-201-312300	2,570	43.4
48-201-312400	2,520	44.0
Places
Houston city Texas	1,925,274	19.2
Counties
Harris County Texas	3,360,536	15.0
States
Texas	20,287,300	15.4
Source: U.S. Census 2000 SF3 Table P87 1 Small area Census geographies are named by their FIPS codes (State FIPS-County FIPS-Tract FIPS & Block group FIPS).

Low Income Populations and Environmental Justice

The US Department of Transportation Order on Environmental Justice (April 1997) defines "low income" as a person whose median household income is at or below the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) poverty guidelines. "Low income population" is defined as "any readily identifiable group of low-income persons who live in geographic proximity, and, if circumstances warrant, geographically dispersed/transient persons (such as migrant workers or Native Americans) who will be similarly affected by a proposed DOT program, policy or activity." The 2009 DHHS poverty guideline for a family or household of four is $22,050. Data in the Income Data table were collected in 1999, and the 1999 DHHS poverty guideline for a family or household of four is $16,700. Block group data indicate that low income populations live in the project area. Additional analyses are needed to determine if the project will result in disproportionately high and adverse effects to low income populations.

Transportation Data

Census Geographies1	Drove Alone (%)	Carpooled (%)	Public Transportation (%)	Bicycle (%)	Walked (%)	Other (%)
Block groups
48-201-312300-1	49.1	6.2	34.1	5.3	5.3	0.0
48-201-312400-4	42.4	13.4	30.5	5.7	8.0	0.0
Tracts
48-201-312300	44.9	16.4	27.8	1.7	7.6	1.6
48-201-312400	31.9	22.0	33.6	6.5	4.3	1.7
Places
Houston city Texas	71.8	15.9	5.9	0.5	2.3	3.6
Counties
Harris County Texas	75.7	14.6	4.1	0.3	1.8	3.5
States
Texas	77.7	14.5	1.9	0.2	1.9	3.8
Source: U.S. Census 2000 SF3 Table P30 1 Small area Census geographies are named by their FIPS codes (State FIPS-County FIPS-Tract FIPS-Block group FIPS & Block FIPS).

Age

Census Geographies2	Total Population	Population Younger Than 18 Years	Population Older Than 64 Years
Blocks
48-201-312300-1-1044	1	0	0
48-201-312300-1-1047	2	0	1
48-201-312300-1-1048	49	17	4
48-201-312400-4-4002	57	17	12
48-201-312400-4-4003	0	0	0
48-201-312400-4-4010	7	0	4
Block Groups
48-201-312300-1	899	254	138
48-201-312400-4	854	221	163
Tracts
48-201-312300	2,569	688	374
48-201-312400	2,592	670	440
Places
Houston city Texas	1,953,631	536,658	164,065
Counties
Harris County Texas	3,400,578	984,556	252,895
States
Texas	20,851,820	5,886,759	2,072,532
Source: U.S. Census 2000 SF1 Table P12 1 Small area Census geographies are named by their FIPS codes (State FIPS-County FIPS-Tract FIPS-Block group FIPS & Block FIPS).

Types of Disabilities

Census Geographies	Sensory	Physical	Mental	Self-care	Go-outside-home	Employment	Total
Block Groups
48-201-312300-1	30	116	61	37	53	147	444
48-201-312400-4	51	106	68	39	51	97	412
Tracts
48-201-312300	141	429	284	148	325	264	1,591
48-201-312400	155	448	192	158	288	293	1,534
places
Houston city Texas	52,337	116,581	73,220	47,997	162,333	189,461	641,929
Blocks
Harris County Texas	84,493	186,942	117,194	72,006	242,473	296,103	999,211
States
Texas	663,300	1,428,580	816,185	487,120	1,359,848	1,651,821	6,406,854
Source: US Census 2000 SF3 P41 This data is for the civilian, noninstitutionalized population age 5 years and over.

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Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Report

Executive Order 13166 "Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency" requires all recipients of federal funds to provide meaningful access to persons who are limited in their English proficiency (LEP). The United States (U.S.) Department of Justice defines LEP individuals as those "who do not speak English as their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English" (67 FR 41459). Data about LEP populations was gathered in the U.S. Census 2000. For data analysis purposes, the Census divides the states of the United States into counties, divides counties into tracts and divides tracts into block groups.

Within area block groups, Census data record the presence of persons who describe their ability to speak English as less than "Very Well." The table below shows the percentages of adults who speak English less than "Very Well" by language category. Additionally, 39 households or 5.8% of households within area block groups reported to the Census that their household was linguistically isolated, meaning that all household members over the age of fourteen had at least some difficulty with English. Thus, Census data indicate the presence of LEP populations.

Table. Census Data: Percent of Adult Speakers Who Speak English Less than Very Well*

Census Geographies	Total Adult Population	Percent of Adult Speakers Who Speak English Less than Very Well
		Spanish Language Speakers	Other Indo European Language Speakers	Asian and Pacific Island Language Speakers	Other Language Speakers
Block Groups
48-201-312300-1	665	6.3%	0.0%	7.5%	0.0%
48-201-312400-4	634	10.1%	2.1%	0.0%	0.0%
Tracts
48-201-312300	1,941	6.3%	0.0%	2.6%	0.0%
48-201-312400	1,933	5.1%	0.9%	0.3%	0.0%
Places
Houston city	1,419,723	18.9%	1.0%	2.5%	0.3%
Counties
Harris County Texas	2,418,438	15.8%	0.9%	2.3%	0.2%
States
Texas	14,977,890	12.6%	0.5%	1.1%	0.1%
Data Source: United States Census 2000 (Table P19) as of February 9, 2008 for persons age 18 and older. * The data on ability to speak English represent the Census respondent's own perception about his ability to speak English (United States Census 2000 Metadata).

Since LEP is partially defined as a limited ability to read and write English, literacy data were also consulted. Indirect literacy estimates for adults were calculated by the National Center for Education Statistics based on 2003 survey data for states and counties. The percentage of adults who lack basic prose literacy skills for Harris County and Texas are 21% and 19% respectively.¹ While literacy estimates do not differentiate between low literate English speakers and low literate LEP populations, literacy data should be considered along with other LEP indicators in determining how to best provide access to LEP populations.

To supplement Census and literacy data, area school district (ISD) data were consulted for indicators of LEP populations. School districts collect data on the number of English Language Learners as defined by each state's Department of Education and migrant students as defined in 34 CFR 200.81(d). For school year 2005-06, HOUSTON ISD reported 27.9% of students as English Language Learners and unknown percent as migrant students. In conclusion, the data indicate the likelihood of LEP populations in the area.

To determine the languages of the LEP populations, Census data were consulted for project area tracts. The table below details the top five languages spoken by the total adult population (LEP and non-LEP) for each tract.

Table. Census Data: Top Five Languages Spoken by the Adult Population

Census Geographies	Language 1	Language 2	Language 3	Language 4	Language 5
Tracts
48-201-312300	English 86.7%	Spanish/Spanish Creole 10.3%	Vietnamese 2.6%	French (Patois, Cajun) 0.5%	-
48-201-312400	English 91.3%	Spanish/Spanish Creole 6.4%	French (Patois, Cajun) 0.9%	African languages 0.7%	Chinese 0.4%
Data Source: United States Census 2000 (Table PCT10) as of February 9, 2008.

Therefore, the block groups data indicate the presence of a Spanish language group that exceeds the Department of Justice's Safe Harbor threshold of 5% or 1,000 persons. In accordance with the Safe Harbor provisions, written translations of vital documents will be provided for the LEP language group in addition to other measures assuring meaningful access. These other measures include [enter any measures to be taken to ensure meaningful access]. Thus, the requirements of Executive Order 13166 appear to be satisfied.

© 2008, 2009, 2010 Cubit Planning excluding data provided by U.S. Census Bureau, National Inst. For Literacy, National Center for Education Statistics and Population Projection data.