As more planners begin to question the value of urban freeways, communities that have long borne the negative impacts of highway construction are fighting back with data.

Residents of Seattle's South Park neighborhood are calling on the state to remove a stretch of highway that community members argue creates air and noise pollution and uses valuable urban space that could be developed into housing, parks, or other uses. "More than 90% of South Park residents live near a contaminated site, Superfund project or freight corridor, compared with roughly 60% for the rest of the city." An article by David Kroman describes the efforts of one community advocacy group to pass legislation limiting highway expansion in communities already impacted by them.
"Local communities have, for decades, spoken out about the impacts of highways on where they live. In recent years, researchers have begun to quantify that impact." Washington-based advocacy organization Front and Centered worked with researchers to create a map that illustrates the disparate public health impacts of living in different parts of the state. "When the map was complete, the results were at once shocking and expected. Low-income and diverse communities near highways — in South King County, Tacoma, Yakima — consistently ranked the highest on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 indicating the most risk. South Park is a 10."
According to the article, Front and Centered is promoting legislation that would use the map to evaluate highway expansion proposals and ban road expansion in areas with high risk ratings. Kroman describes the mixed opinions on the part of state legislators, who support attempts to redress the damage done by urban highways but express concern about goods movement, a key industry in Washington state.
In addition to working to get their legislation passed in a future legislative session, Front and Centered leaders hope the state will conduct a feasibility study to assess the potential for removing Highway 99.
FULL STORY: Seattle residents drive movement to tear out Highway 99 in South Park

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.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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