Cities across the country are reevaluating the impacts of major highway on neighborhoods and looking for ways to revitalize and reconnect communities.
In a piece rich with visual aids and aerial photos that illustrate how cities looked before highways, New York Times writers Nadja Popovich, Josh Williams and Denise Lu ask "can removing highways fix American cities?"
Until recently, "[f]ederal and state funds have historically gone to building highways, not removing them." Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has acknowledged the unequal legacy of highway projects, saying that "there is racism physically built into some of our highways." To address this, President Biden's infrastructure plan proposes "$20 billion to help reconnect neighborhoods divided by highways."
San Francisco's Embarcadero Freeway provides one of the country's oldest examples of successful highway removal. When the freeway was "irreparably damaged" by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the area was redeveloped into what is now a bustling pedestrian-friendly waterfront. "[I]n 2013, the city of Rochester, in upstate New York, won a nearly $18 million grant from the Obama administration that allowed it to take out an eastern segment of its sunken Inner Loop freeway, known locally as 'the moat.'" Since then, the area has experienced a transformation that includes new housing, bike lanes, and roads that connect more of the neighborhood to make walking more convenient.
"In recent years, more cities have started to seriously rethink some of their highways. The Congress for New Urbanism, a group that tracks highway removals, counted 33 proposed projects in 28 American cities." While plans for highway removal "could make life better for local residents as well as the planet," the proposals could also lead to displacement of vulnerable communities. "We need to figure out how to change without displacing people," says Dr. Garrick of the University of Connecticut. "The proposed Democratic legislation hopes to avoid that paradox. The bill would fund community outreach and engagement by local groups. And it prioritizes capital construction grants for projects that include measures like land trusts that would ensure the availability of affordable housing for local residents. "
FULL STORY: Can Removing Highways Fix America’s Cities?
Reimagining the Urban Freeway
With the new administration placing racial justice and equity at the forefront of transportation policy, will America finally reckon with the legacy of its freeways?
How Albany Can Reclaim Its Waterfront From a Bad Highway
Finding full-scale highway removal nearly impossible, advocates in the New York state capital turn to creative workarounds to reconnect the city to the Hudson River.
Outdated State and Federal Road Design Rules Hinder Freeway Removal
Although some cities are in favor of removing or reducing urban freeways in favor of more walkable spaces, guidelines like the 11-year-old MUTCD still encourage a 'throughput at all costs' mentality.
The Top Urban Planning Books of 2021
Planetizen's annual list of the top urban planning books of the year is here—maintaining a tradition that dates back to 2002.
The Roadway Expansion Paradox
Motorists want expensive roadway expansions provided that somebody else foots the bill, but when required to pay directly through tolls, the need for more capacity often disappears. What should planners do?
Urban Exodus: Data Don't Support the Popular Pandemic Narrative
Americans fled cities in waves during the pandemic, right? Not to so fast.
Miami Reinstates E-Scooter Program
After abruptly ending its shared e-scooter program last month, Miami is letting the devices return to its streets–with some new rules.
Doubling Down on Bus Rapid Transit in Northern Virginia
Arlington County plans an expansion of the D.C. region's first Bus Rapid Transit line.
Study: At Least 1,500 Unhoused Died on the Streets of L.A. During the Pandemic
New research represents the first detailed picture of death among people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic.
Nelson\Nygaard
BRAILSFORD & DUNLAVEY
Water Replenishment District (WRD)
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of San Carlos
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Royal Oak, Michigan
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.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.
