Environmental Justice (EJ) seeks to ensure that there is a
fair distribution of the benefits and the burdens of environmental protection
among everyone, regardless of race or income level. EJ issues come into play with land use
planning because historically minority and low income populations have had to
bear the burden of transportation growth; these communities have had to contend
with highways being built through their neighborhood and valuable open space being
taken for transit purposes. Residents have suffered increased health problems
because of air pollution from added traffic traveling through their
communities.
In recent years, there has been increased recognition of the potentially harmful social, economic, and health effects of highway-induced urban sprawl on low income and minority groups in the United States. In response, many have advocated smart growth policy strategies to reverse these effects and improve access for disadvantaged groups.