The city of Cloquet, in partnership with Arrowhead Regional Development Commission and Carlton County Public Health and Human Services, conducted an HIA to inform revisions to the transportation section of its Comprehensive Plan, which guides the city’s physical, social, and economic development. The HIA used a community survey and literature review to examine the potential positive and negative health impacts of three updates to the plan’s transportation section: incorporating bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in a busy downtown intersection; providing a designated bicycle lane on a key street; and introducing a snow removal ordinance. The assessment recommended improvements to intersections and bicycle connectivity to better accommodate pedestrians and bicycles, thereby promoting physical activity. The HIA also suggested that the city should have a sidewalk snow removal program to ensure equitable mobility and comply with ADA requirements.The HIA created momentum for implementing Cloquet’s complete streets policy, and one of its recommendations was adopted into the Comprehensive Plan’s transportation section. The city is in the process of carrying out the plan and, as of September 2017, infrastructure improvements have been made. For instance, Cloquet is adding new streets and reconstructing streets to improve connectivity and safety at intersections, incorporating new sidewalks and bike paths, and requiring residents to remove snow on sidewalks.
Outcome
The HIA created momentum for implementing Cloquet’s complete streets policy and one of its recommendations was adopted into the Comprehensive Plan’s transportation section. The city is in the process of carrying out the plan and, as of September 2017, infrastructure improvements have been made. For instance, Cloquet is adding new streets and reconstructing streets to improve connectivity and safety at intersections, adding new sidewalks and bike paths, as well as requiring residents to remove snow on sidewalks.
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This Health Impact Assessment Report first appeared in The Cross-Sector Toolkit for Health. The Cross-Sector Toolkit for Health was originally developed by the Health Impact Project, formerly a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts. The creation of this resource was supported by a grant from the Health Impact Project. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pew Charitable Trusts, or the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
