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10/30/2023
The American Planning Association's Northern California Section has recognized the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) with its 2023 Excellence Award for Advancing Diversity and Social Change in Honor of Paul Davidoff.
The award honors the authority's San Jose-to-Merced project section's environmental justice community improvement planning and engagement process, according to a CHSRA news release.
"This work reflects a multi-year process of building relationships with the communities that the high-speed rail system travels through, with an emphasis on environmental justice and partnership," said CHSRA Northern California Regional Director Boris Lipkin. "Were honored that the American Planning Association recognizes those efforts as a best practice, and we look forward to continuing these relationships as we bring high-speed rail to Northern California."
The authority collaborated with environmental justice communities to identify improvements that would help offset the project's environmental effects. Engagement for the project included more than 200 events, including 58 meetings focused on planning for community enhancements. The collaborative planning approach resulted in the identification of 25 community improvements across the eight affected communities, the release stated.
The award is named after Paul Davidoff, an urban planner who pioneered inclusionary zoning.