Corridors of Cooperation and Conflict: Evaluating Transportation Justice in Buffalo, NY

A historic photo of the Humboldt Parkway, left, which was converted to the Kensington Expressway, right, as seen from a similar point of view. Image: Ian Lockwood.

Explore the Evolution of Spatial Justice, Highways and Neighborhoods with our Interdisciplinary team! 

Project description

We are seeking two students to join an interdisciplinary project investigating the relationship between infrastructure investments and neighborhood change in Buffalo, NY. The students will collect and analyze historical geospatial data for two neighborhoods (one neighborhood/student) to identify trends in neighborhood demographics and infrastructure investment over a 50-year period. Students will also have the opportunity, but will not be required, to participate in field work activities with the research team, including attending block walks and community mapping exercises in the two target neighborhoods. 

Project outcome

Each student will produce a 5-page research report and 10 to 15 minute presentation to the research team in May 2025 and at the end of their mentored research experience in August 2025. Students will have the option of attending either the regional Western NY Planning conference (a practitioner and policymaker focus) or the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (academic research focus) in Fall 2025 to co-present with the research team. 

Project details

Timing, eligibility and other details
Length of commitment Longer than a semester; 6-9 months
Start time Spring (January/February)
Summer (May/June)
Other: February 1, 2025 
In-person, remote, or hybrid? Hybrid Project (can be remote and/or in-person; to be determined by mentor and student) 
Level of collaboration Individual Student Project
Benefits Stipend
Who is eligible All undergraduate students with beginner skills in Geographic Information Systems (GIS; ex. ArcGIS, QGIS) 

Core partners

Project mentor

Lauren Fischer

Assistant Professor, Director of Research

Urban and Regional Planning

Phone: (716) 829-5913

Email: lf44@buffalo.edu

Start the project

  1. Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
  2. After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.) 

Preparation activities

Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase. 

Prior to beginning their work on the project, students are expected to complete two required readings: A journal article (Roberts, 2023) and a news article ("Bury this Big Mistake", 2010). They are also required to review a PowerPoint Presentation. These context specific materials will help students gain a broader understanding of the history and contemporary debates relevant to the research. After completing the readings, students will prepare 3 questions that they have about the material. They will share these via email with Dr. Fischer prior to the first research meeting, where they will be discussed.

For additional policy context, students may choose (but are not required) to review this report Freeways without Futures report from the Congress for New Urbanism (https://www.cnu.org/highways-boulevards/freeways-without-futures/2019

Keywords

environmental design, geography, urban planning, environmental sustainability, environmental justice, GIS, mapping, infrastructure, transportation