3 Freeway Cap Projects Designed to Undo the Racism of the Past

A trio of freeway cap proposals around the country—in St. Paul, Atlanta, and Austin—embody the potential of infrastructure change to undo the mistakes of the past.

2 minute read

October 8, 2020, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


The Stitch

Central Atlanta Progress / The Stitch, designed by Jacobs.

Adina Solomon writes a summary of a recent ULI webinar hosted by the Curtis Infrastructure Initiative in provided information on the status and ambitions of three freeway cap projects, located in Atlanta, Austin, and St. Paul.

According to the premise of the webinar, COVID-19 and the ongoing civil unrest in response to recent police violence have renewed concerns about the legacy of land use and development. A new take on infrastructure, embodied by the symbolism and reality of freeway cap parks, was described by the webinar panel as a solution to the "economic malaise" impacting the nation, as well as the racist and discriminatory outcomes of 20th century planning.

In St. Paul, the nonprofit group ReConnect Rondo is spearheading a project that would add a land bridge over Interstate 94 "to bring equity to the Rondo neighborhood, where 85 percent of the city’s Black population lived in the 1950s and 1960s."

"The Rondo Community Land Bridge would create about 500 new housing units," reports Solomon. "More than 700 Black-owned homes were destroyed to make way for I-94."

In Atlanta, Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) is working to create “the Stitch,” to fill a need for parks in Atlanta's downtown. "[T]he construction of Interstate 75/85 cut up downtown and eliminated a grid of mostly Black neighborhoods, along with what was once the largest Jewish community in the city," according to Solomon.

Finally, the plan in Austin "is to create 11 acres (4.5 ha) of surface area out of proposed I-35 caps in three locations, in addition to creating a boulevard along the entire length of the 2.5-mile (4 km) corridor."

Wednesday, October 7, 2020 in UrbanLand

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.