MOBILITY UNBOUND
Imagine a society where everyone is free to move safely and with self-determination; where everyone flourishes socially, culturally and economically, unrestricted by structural barriers within transportation systems.
Achieving this vision of mobility unbound requires a collaborative approach that is grounded in principles of mobility justice. This framework begins with an understanding of the ways that transportation infrastructure and practices have historically excluded or harmed groups of people, particularly communities of color, in order to heal the harms of the past and build transportation systems that work for all.
Building systems that work for everyone requires that we acknowledge the unjust histories of mobility and economic prosperity in American cities.
A mobility justice approach to transportation planning includes facilitating dialogue, funding the participation of people and community organizations who are directly affected, and establishing partnerships that lead to the shared decision-making that is necessary for meaningful repair.
By taking a mobility justice approach, government agencies and elected officials can advance transportation policies, programs, and projects that bring community-driven visions to life.
Opening The Gateway To The Fox Cities
The Community Connectors program in Appleton, WI seeks to build mobility infrastructure to improve safety, quality of life, and economic opportunities along a 2.5-mile stretch of the W College Avenue corridor.
The
With a steadily increasing population of 75,644, Appleton is the sixth-most populous city in Wisconsin with the W College Avenue corridor serving as a gateway to the Fox Cities [1]. It is home to prominent destinations such as Lawrence University, the Fox Cities Exhibition Center, the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, and two major hospitals. The project area lies within the City of Appleton and its neighbor, the Town of Grand Chute. The project area is home to nearly 10,000 people and 4,200 households [2]. It contains over 1,000 businesses and 23,000 employees [3].
The
The W College Avenue corridor is two and a half miles long and positioned between the Appleton International Airport and downtown Appleton. It crosses two municipalities within one county, and transitions between county highway, state highway, and local road sections. The surrounding urban fabric is highly developed. The W College Avenue corridor accesses key destinations, but is constrained by insufficient and car-centric infrastructure. The corridor is a car-centric space that presents hazardous travel conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians. Bike paths and sidewalks are non-existent in places where footpaths reflect the need.
Neighborhood residents lack opportunities to safely and conveniently cross the corridor to access services including schools, grocery stores, and employers. Transit service is limited, and service hours don’t align with non-traditional job schedules.
The
The Community Connectors project is transforming the corridor’s existing car-centric infrastructure to make better use of space and to improve access to adjacent commercial and employment hubs, community anchors, and residences. The work emphasizes equitable access and safety by improving intersections and adding essential urban amenities including bicycle/pedestrian trails, crosswalks, and lighting.
Efforts to redress these historic wrongs are currently underway in Appleton by African Heritage, Inc. and the Appleton Historic Preservation Commission, who aim to elevate the discourse around social injustice that is imperative to address gaps between White residents and communities of color. The Fox Cities Region has a strong history of collaboration and enthusiasm to address the W College Avenue corridor, which has been building for over a decade. Community Connectors provides key resources to move this project forward and will serve as a launching point for continued work to make this corridor a vibrant space that is safer, more accessible, and a better reflection of the community’s shared identity.
The
LEAD — Outagamie County
Each City Snapshot offers local historical context related to mobility justice. The MOBILITY LEGACIES are organized according to five themes.
These MOBILITY LEGACIES do not provide exhaustive histories of the cities. Rather, they point to harmful policies and decisions and, subsequently, opportunities for repair and reconnection.
