-Replacing underutilized parking infrastructure with green infrastructure, like parks or gardens
-Replacing unused lanes of traffic with separated sidewalks and bike paths
-Installing a new transit system in additional traffic lanes
-Construct narrower lanes as a traffic calming measure to enhance the safety of pedestrians and cyclists
-Freeway removal and deconstruction to promote connectivity, public transit, and modes of active transportation 2
How it Helps
Implementing
Collaboration:
In order to replace or renovate outdated or unused transportation infrastructure with more sustainable and health-promoting designs, it will require collaboration among a range of stakeholders including urban planners, city government officials, transportation experts, and public health professionals. Each of these groups will be able to provide helpful implementation regarding how the proposed infrastructure changes will impact the surrounding population and environment.
Equity Concerns:
Unfortunately, mobility and accessibility gaps continue to persist between different population groups in the United States, particularly among individuals of lower socioeconomic status.3 Additionally, it has been shown that certain built environment infrastructure elements—such as bicycle lanes, parks, or public transit service—tend to be added or improved more often in areas with higher socioeconomic affluence.4 This can play a considerable role in the root causes of health disparities. Therefore, planners will have to ensure that these communities are not getting left behind in transportation infrastructure improvements.
Examples
1) Rochester, New York Deconstruction
Rochester, New York used to have a busy Inner Loop beltway that was constructed to connect to I-490. Unfortunately, this led to a decline in the surrounding population for the next several decades. Beginning in 1990, the city had the goal of removing this overbuilt roadway section that they said was a barrier to downtown. The city completed the new Union Street in 2017 in place of the loop, and this design featured parking lanes, sidewalks, bike paths, crosswalks, and greenery among the vehicle lanes. It also contains new housing—including subsidized housing—and retail spaces. In the case of Rochester, removing an outdated section of highway and replacing it with multi-use development greatly benefited the surrounding area.