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 Pleasant Hill
The Community Connectors project in Macon aims to reconnect the Pleasant Hill and Downtown neighborhoods by bringing together local organizations, residents, and government agencies to define housing strategies, develop transportation infrastructure, and increase pedestrian safety.
The
Pleasant Hill is an historic neighborhood in Macon and home to the city’s Black middle and upper classes, located a few blocks northwest of Downtown Macon. The one-square-mile area has suffered from disinvestment since the construction of I-75 in the 1960s and the neighborhood is currently experiencing a vacancy rate of 27%. Pleasant Hill has an elementary school, community center, many community organizations, as well as the historic boyhood home of the legendary musician Little Richard.
Pleasant Hill is currently undergoing a $10 million Pleasant Hill Mitigation Plan funded by both the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Macon-Bibb Community Enhancement Authority (MBCEA), intended to improve the safety of the I-75 corridor by widening and reconstructing both interstates, which will have a significant impact on the neighborhood. Improvements planned and underway include street repaving, new parks, streetscaping, and new sidewalks.
The
The construction of I-75 in the 1960s divided the Pleasant Hill neighborhood and left the neighborhood geographically and emotionally disconnected from downtown Macon. The interstate fractured the community, removed its commercial center, and limited upward economic mobility for residents. The neighborhood became car dependent and unsafe for pedestrians, with high numbers of pedestrian fatalities and injuries.
The
The Community Connectors project seeks to reconnect Pleasant Hill with downtown Macon by improving infrastructure and pedestrian safety on Walnut Street (from Madison Street to Culver Street). The effort will focus on commercial development, housing supply, and cultural and historic preservation. The project is guided by the community-led 2022 Pleasant Hill Neighborhood Strategic Plan, which identified key factors to enhance neighborhood sustainability and repair the harms caused by the divisive interstate.
The
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.
