Bloomfield Avenue Complete Corridor Health Impact Assessment was conducted to identify potential positive and negative health impacts that could result from a potential road diet where the four travel lanes along Bloomfield Avenue would be reduced to three and thereby create safer travel conditions for pedestrians, cyclists, transit users and drivers. This work was supported by Partners for Health, a local community foundation dedicated to advancing good health, wellness and disease prevention. The HIA was developed in conjunction with a Local Demonstration Project funded by Together North Jersey. The Bloomfield Avenue Complete Corridor Plan included the towns of Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair and Verona in Essex County, New Jersey.
Recommendations of the HIA determined the removal of a lane of vehicle traffic has the potential to improving pedestrian, bicycle and public transportation access along the corridor. This could increase safety, physical activity, social cohesion, access to public services and local economic conditions for people who reside and visit the area. It also showed a decrease in stress of drivers, commuters, shoppers, business patrons and pedestrians with a potential increase in air pollution. By combining scientific data, health expertise and public input, the HIA was able to consider a range of social, environmental and economic influences on health and place an emphasis on identifying groups who might be particularly vulnerable or disproportionately impacted.
View/download the final report: Bloomfield Ave. Complete Corridor HIA