Hartford, Connecticut is offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to undo the mistakes of its forebears—in the form of an elevated urban freeway.
An op-ed by the Hartford Courant editorial board describes the mistakes of the I-84 highway in Greater Hartford, as designed and built in 1959 and 1969, before making an argument for contemporary planning concepts to guide the work of planning a replacement.
The editorial board describes the highway as an unmitigated disaster—an idea that even Robert Moses balked but could not prevent from moving forward. According to the editorial board, "the road was poorly designed, with substandard shoulder widths, poor alignments, dangerous left-handed entrances and exits, and closely spaced interchanges that create weaving conflicts between vehicles coming onto and getting off the road." Moreover, I-84 through Hartford averages more than four times the state average in vehicle collisions a day.
Now environmental planning is already underway for a replacement, and the editorial sees progress in how planners and designers are approaching the project, but conclude with an imperative: "We need to get it right this time."
FULL STORY: Get I-84 In Hartford Right This Time
Hartford Facing Tough Choices About Downtown Highway
The Interstate 84 viaduct in Hartford, Connecticut, is past due for major updates, and a variety of very different possibilities are on the table.
Connecticut Bus System Earns Top Ranking
Hartford’s CTfastrak system wins out over other US bus networks for service quality and connectivity.
Innovative Project Aims for Affordable Home Ownership
The Brackett Knoll subdivision is wrapping up construction in Hartford, Connecticut, offering duplexes for sale at reduced rates with built in rental income included.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
The Five Most-Changed American Cities
A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.
San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan
The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.
Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts
Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.
Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions