New Roads Bring Sprawl

Cities control land use; the state oversees transportation infrastructure. On Boston's Route 128 the result is sprawling growth.

1 minute read

December 10, 2001, 8:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"...For everything that's good about the Woburn interchange, environmentalists and regional planning advocates say it still represents an old-fashioned approach: building roadways that promote extensive development, private profit, and a landscape of sprawl.Unlike Vermont, Florida, Oregon, and a handful of other states that carefully consider the development implications of all roadway improvement projects, Massachusetts highway planners worry chiefly about traffic flow and leave development issues to local jurisdictions. But a growing number of advocates want state highway planners to consider not just the road but the land beside the road."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Sunday, December 9, 2001 in The Boston Globe

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