Barriers to Community Connectivity: Assessment of Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program

Historically, transportation planning emphasized rapid, often more expensive modes like driving, frequently sidelining community preservation and connectivity. Such trends predominantly affected mixed-use urban locales, advancing vehicle-centric designs over the accessibility, quality of life, and economic interests of residents. However, a recent pivot towards transportation equity, as evidenced by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), is notable. The BIL champions the Reconnecting Communities Program (RCP), an initiative committed to repairing historically induced community separations and promoting accessible, cohesive, and flourishing neighborhoods. This research offers a framework to spotlight community needs by pinpointing and addressing divisions spawned by earlier transportation decisions. Using data analytics, we meticulously assess the 2022 RCP grant applications to deduce a comprehensive approach for identifying transport infrastructures that segregate or burden communities. This methodological approach not only highlights the divisive facilities but also unveils potent mitigation strategies. Our framework aims to empower decision-makers with actionable knowledge to understand, address, and potentially eliminate such community disjunctions, fostering more integrated and holistic urban planning.