UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies

This project is a mixed-methods case study of a completed freeway-to-boulevard project in Rochester, New York. To spatially assess potential benefits to quality of life, I compared the years before and after the project was completed in the area surrounding the Inner Loop East using a combination of census data, air quality estimates, asthma ED-visit rate data, traffic volume data, and bicycle/pedestrian counts. I also interviewed planners, community advocates, and residents about the project. Evidence from the interviews was supplemented with document analysis of news coverage, social media commentary, public meeting notes, and city planning documents. Through this case study, I found that the Rochester Inner Loop East Transformation project succeeded in improving mobility and connectivity and creation of new affordable housing units, but that it likely also contributed to gentrification in the area and displacement of Black and low-income residents. I identified key lessons for future projects to address air quality, traffic, displacement, and community engagement, which aim to inform the EPA Office of Community Revitalization as they begin community engagement and design processes for similar projects in other communities.