Mobilizing for Community Benefits to Assess Health and Promote Environmental Justice near the Gordie Howe International Bridge

Natalie Sampson, Simone Sagovac, Amy Schulz, Lauren Fink, Graciela Mentz, Angela Reyes, Kristina Rice, Ricardo de Majo, Cindy Gamboa and Bridget Vial
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Natalie Sampson: Department of Health & Human Services, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, MI 48128, USA
Simone Sagovac: Southwest Detroit Community Benefits Coalition, Detroit, MI 48209, USA
Amy Schulz: Health Behavior Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Lauren Fink: Detroit Health Department, Detroit, MI 48207, USA
Graciela Mentz: Department of Anesthesiology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Angela Reyes: Detroit Health Department, Detroit, MI 48207, USA
Kristina Rice: Center for Global Health Equity, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Ricardo de Majo: Health Behavior Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Cindy Gamboa: Detroit Health Department, Detroit, MI 48207, USA
Bridget Vial: Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, Detroit, MI 48209, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-23

Abstract: Transportation infrastructure decisions contribute to social, economic, and health inequities in the U.S. Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) may improve understanding of potential strategies to mitigate adverse effects on quality of life from planned developments. We use the Gordie Howe International Bridge (GHIB), currently under construction in southwest Detroit, MI, as a case study to examine 15 years of community mobilization, which resulted in community benefits that included an HIA. We describe community engagement processes, household survey methods, and select findings of the baseline HIA, with a focus on their application to inform recommendations to promote quality of life. Baseline HIA results indicated significantly higher self-reported asthma rates among children living within 500 feet of trucking routes. Residents reported substantial economic (e.g., decreased home values), health (e.g., adverse outcomes, lack of health care access), and environmental (e.g., air pollution) concerns related to the GHIB. We discuss specific recommendations, based on HIA results, to reduce adverse impacts of the GHIB. These recommendations will inform ongoing community benefits negotiations. This case study provides lessons for community, academic, and government partners conducting HIAs, especially during building and operation of major infrastructure, and discusses their potential role in improving community engagement opportunities towards environmental justice.

Keywords: air pollution; community benefits; environmental justice; Health Impact Assessment; goods movement; transportation infrastructure; community-based participatory research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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