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.
Reconnecting Essex County
The Community Connectors project in East Orange and Orange aims to reconnect the north and south segments of the two cities by engaging community members and state decision-makers in the planning and implementation of infrastructure improvements to the dangerous highway, Freeway Drive.
The
East Orange and Orange are neighboring urban communities that are among the most densely-populated in the state and country. A total of 102,124 people live within these cities; 79% identify as Black and 18% are Latinx [1]. The median household income is $51,547, well below the state average of $89,703 [2].
The
Residents south of I-280 face a dangerous crossing over Freeway Drive – more than 500 feet of multi-lane, high speed state highway – to access transit and key economic and municipal services [3]. The three lanes in each direction results in long crossing distances without adequate pedestrian sidewalks, countdown timers, or ADA accommodations [4]. Freeway Drive has an average annual occurrence of more than 10 pedestrian crashes and 200 total crashes within the corridor, about 60% of which occur within 1-block of a commuter train station, and a pedestrian crash fatality rate of 3.36 per 100,000 residents across both cities [5].
Improvements to the dangerous infrastructure have been stalled because the NJ Department of Transportation is the owner of the eligible facility and is the only entity that can secure future funding or authorize construction [6].
The
The Community Connectors project seeks to reconnect the north and south segments of the communities through improvements to bridges, roadways, and other transportation infrastructure. The project aims to advance the recommendations that were outlined in the 2017 Freeway Drive & Station Area Safety and Public Realm Study completed with support from USDOT, but that have been stalled by the pivotal, decision-making role of NJ DOT. To advance these updates to improve the conditions of Freeway Drive, the Community Connectors team is engaging impacted residents and organizations in the planning process and advocating for state-level buy-in to ensure that the plans are brought to fruition.
The
LEAD — City of East Orange NJ
Greater Newark Conservancy
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.
