Reconnecting Communities: Highways to Boulevards

Challenge  

Transportation decisions had directly contributed to racial and economic injustice. The profound impacts of redlining, highway expansion, and exclusionary zoning have left underserved communities with fewer housing and transportation options; lower access to jobs, services, healthy food, and recreation; and heightened exposure to air pollution and traffic incidents. The resulting transportation barriers bisected communities, limited economic development, housing development, climate adaptation, safety and educational opportunities negatively effecting communities for generations.  

Solution

In response to the adoption of Streets & Highways Code 104.3, Caltrans launched the Reconnecting Communities: Highways to Boulevards (RC:H2B) Pilot Program. The program was established to plan for and fund the conversion of key underutilized highways in the State into multi-modal corridors to reconnect communities divided by transportation infrastructure. The historical harm will be addressed through community-based transportation planning, design, demolition, and/or reconstruction of city streets, parks, or other infrastructure. This pilot program seeks to restore community connectivity through community driven transportation planning and project delivery. 

Result

• Restore Community Connectivity​.

• Provide matching funds for federal grants​.

• Removing barriers associated with transportation infrastructure.

• Improve travel options.​

• Support opportunities for implementation of affordable housing.

• Avoid displacement effects​.

• Advance Community-Based transportation planning through community involvement rather than engagement.

• Capacity and trust building with communities though involvement throughout the pilot program resulting in community leaders learning about and participating in project identification, planning and delivery.

Project Contact:  

Gretchen A. Chavez - Gretchen.Chavez@dot.ca.gov