Half a century later, Interstate highways have transformed the face of modern America.
Initially proposed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1950s as a network of roads that could "meet the demands of catastrophe or defense, should an atomic war come," today the U.S. interstate highway system represents a core component of the country's transportation infrastructure.
"[Interstates have] spawned such basic elements of American life as the suburb, the motel, the chain store, the recreational vehicle, the seat belt, the spring-break trek to Florida, the 30-mile commute and the two-mile traffic jam."
The new system also brought an end to the prominence of existing major highways, including US 1 and US 66.
FULL STORY: The Superhighway to Everywhere
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.
The French Solution to Congested Tunnels: Make Them Car-Free
Bay Area transportation officials keep expanding car capacity. Lyon’s Croix Rousse Tunnel offers a different way.
Missouri Governor Reverses Anti-Discrimination Housing Policies
A new state law bars cities from prohibiting source-of-income discrimination against tenants using Section 8 housing vouchers.
USDOT Launches Unfunded 'SAFE ROADS' Program
The program targets “distractions” and “political messages or artwork,” and paves the way for autonomous vehicles.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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