Chapter 7: Environmental Justice The Environmental Justice office of US Environmental Protection Agency defines Environmental Justice as: “…the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” Environmental Justice areas were identified to determine what neighborhoods could be impacted by capacity and preservation projects being proposed. In order to determine what areas are considered low income or minority in the Metropolitan Area, The Demographic Indicators in the Environmental Protection Agency’s EJSCREEN were used. The EJSCREEN uses the following definitions: Percent minority: Percent of individuals where minority is defined as all but Non-Hispanic White Alone. Calculated from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2008-2012. Percent low-income: Percent of individuals whose ratio of household income to poverty level in the past 12 months was less than 2 (as a fraction of individuals for whom ratio was determined). Calculated from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2008-2012. Maps of the identified locations follow, along with a summary table identifying capacity projects are located in an Environmental Justice area. KATS, through its Consultation Process, contacted all known neighborhood associations including those in the identified Environmental Justice areas, requesting feedback on proposed projects. No adverse impact is foreseen on the target low income or minority locations within Kalamazoo County. All projects are planned to be contained within existing right-of-way. KATS will encourage the local road agencies to inform residents of upcoming projects through various sources, including public meetings, newsletters, and website information. Preservation projects are not considered to be an adverse impact to Environmental Justice areas based on the definition of a preservation project. A preservation project is a project that will operate within the current right-of-way for the existing infrastructure. As such, a preservation project does not infringe on the area outside of the right-of-way, thus should not have an adverse impact on the Environmental Justice area. KATS also reviewed the public transportation fixed route service to determine if adequate coverage of the populations are being serviced. Maps showing the fixed route bus routes and the Environmental Justice target areas are following. In addition to fixed route services, demand response public transportation access is available throughout the Environmental Justice areas and the entire metropolitan planning area. Based on the current fixed public transportation system, areas that are typically used by these identified populations have access to the public transportation system. 1
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Chapter 7: Environmental Justice
The Environmental Justice office of US Environmental Protection Agency defines Environmental Justice as: “…the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” Environmental Justice areas were identified to determine what neighborhoods could be impacted by capacity and preservation projects being proposed. In order to determine what areas are considered low income or minority in the Metropolitan Area, The Demographic Indicators in the Environmental Protection Agency’s EJSCREEN were used. The EJSCREEN uses the following definitions:
Percent minority: Percent of individuals where minority is defined as all but Non-Hispanic White Alone. Calculated from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2008-2012. Percent low-income: Percent of individuals whose ratio of household income to poverty level in the past 12 months was less than 2 (as a fraction of individuals for whom ratio was determined). Calculated from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2008-2012.
Maps of the identified locations follow, along with a summary table identifying capacity projects are located in an Environmental Justice area. KATS, through its Consultation Process, contacted all known neighborhood associations including those in the identified Environmental Justice areas, requesting feedback on proposed projects. No adverse impact is foreseen on the target low income or minority locations within Kalamazoo County. All projects are planned to be contained within existing right-of-way. KATS will encourage the local road agencies to inform residents of upcoming projects through various sources, including public meetings, newsletters, and website information. Preservation projects are not considered to be an adverse impact to Environmental Justice areas based on the definition of a preservation project. A preservation project is a project that will operate within the current right-of-way for the existing infrastructure. As such, a preservation project does not infringe on the area outside of the right-of-way, thus should not have an adverse impact on the Environmental Justice area. KATS also reviewed the public transportation fixed route service to determine if adequate coverage of the populations are being serviced. Maps showing the fixed route bus routes and the Environmental Justice target areas are following. In addition to fixed route services, demand response public transportation access is available throughout the Environmental Justice areas and the entire metropolitan planning area. Based on the current fixed public transportation system, areas that are typically used by these identified populations have access to the public transportation system.
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Environmental Justice Finding Summary
The following table shows the capacity projects in the identified environmental justice areas. The 2045 Transportation plan expenditure on transit operations and capital will directly benefit the environmental justice areas. There have been no negative comments received from the environmental justice areas or others on the 2045 Transportation Plan impact on the target population areas. This 2045 Transportation Plan does not disproportionately impact the environmental justice areas and satisfies the environmental justice requirements.
Capacity Projects within Environmental Justice Areas
Project ID
Project Limits Description Year
5 I-94 E. of Portage Rd. to W. of Sprinkle Reconstruct 2020 6 Whites Road Parkview to Westnedge Resurface 2021-2025 9 Howard St. Gar Lane to W. Michigan Facility 2021-2025
31 US-131 BR I-94 BL to Kalamazoo North City Limit Resurface 2017 32 Portage Road Osterhout Ave. to Centre Ave. Reconstruct 2041-2045
2
M 40
M 43
E I 94W I 94
26th
St
E Red Arrow Hwy
33rd
StCo
unty
Road
653
Coun
ty Ro
ad 65
7
County Road 375
Coun
ty Ro
ad 65
2
Front St
25th
St
E 3rd St
E McGillen St
72nd Ave
M 40
E I 94 W I 94
N US
131
S US 1
31
W U Ave
W D Ave
N 6th
St
S 8th
St
Gull Rd
S 12th
St
Porta
ge R
d
Oakla
nd D
rDo
uglas
Ave
W W Ave
W Q Ave
N 12
th St
E G Ave
S 4th
St
Ravine Rd
W Main StE Main St
Stadium Ave
Sprin
kle R
d
N Riv
erview
Dr
Shave
r Rd
W K L Ave
E S AveN
24th
St
S 9th
St
E D Ave
E N Ave
King Hwy
E Michigan Ave
I 94 BL
S Wes
tnedg
e Ave
Portage St
Texas D
r
E W Ave
E V Ave
N 2n
d St
W N Ave
S 11th
St Stadium DrAlmena Dr
N 28
th St
Love
rs Ln
E P Ave
Qr Ave
Richplain RdNazareth Rd
S Burd
ick St
N 25th St
N We
stned
ge Av
e
S 6th
St
N Bus US 131
S Bus US 131
S 29th
St
N 26
th St
E V W Ave
W P Ave
E Kilgore Rd
N 27
th St
N Dr
ake R
d
Howard StN
9th S
t
S Van
Kal
St
W Milham Ave
9th St
W O Ave
Mount Olive
t Rd
N 10
th St
Parkview Ave
W V W Ave
E U V Ave
Vanderbilt Ave
N Pa
rk St
Alamo Ave
E T U Ave
Bron
son B
lvd
E T Ave
S Mills
St
Mandigo Ave
Angling Rd
N Nic
hols
Rd
E Centre Ave
W H Ave
E R Ave
Bacon Ave
Zylman Ave
5th S
t
Mall Dr
E Cork St
Lake St
E Osterhout Ave
Romence Rd E
E Eliza St
Porte
r St
E P Q Ave
W Michigan Ave
W Main St
N 2n
d St
E W Ave
Ravine Rd
E D Ave
S 6th
St
S 29th
St
W W Ave
43
18
31
27
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Capacity Projects & Environmental Justice Areas
0 2.5 51.25 Miles
´Legend
Capacity ProjectsFederal Aid RoadsEnvironmental Justice AreasBlock Groups
Source: MiGDL, KATS, ACS 2008-2012January 2016
Environmental Justice Areas include block groups that are either percent minority or percent low-income. Please refer
to the Environmental Justice chapter of the plan for moreinformation regarding these deomographic indicators.
(Blocks in the 80 - 100 percentile)
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Metro Transit Routes & Environmental Justice Areas
Source: 2010 Census, MCGI, KATS, OEI, OEJ´3 0 31.5 Miles
LegendTransit RoutesEnvironmental Justice Areas
Environmental Justice Areas include both percent minorityand percent low-income calculated from the CensusBureaur's American Community Survey 2008-2012.Please refer to the Environmental Justice chapter
of the plan for more information.80-100 percentile