Mapped Snow Routes Reveal the Logic of Transportation Infrastructure

A side-by side-comparison of several cities’ snow routes reveals the inherent logic (or lack thereof) of their transportation infrastructure.

1 minute read

February 15, 2014, 11:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Emily Badger, inspired by a map of snow routes in Washington D.C., collected similar maps for a handful of cities around the country. Here’s what Badger found: “Compare these maps against each other, and they also reveal an underlying logic in how each city is organized, by grid (Chicago), by waterway (Philadelphia), or by relative chaos (we're looking at you, Louisville).”

The harsh nature of the current winter has provided plenty of perspective on transportation infrastructure. From sneckdowns to shutdowns—here's hoping communities are prepared to take the lessons of this winter and apply them to safer and more resilient infrastructures in the future.

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