In naming a highway after an green business pioneer, the state of Georgia took an initial step in what has become a growing effort to implement a new focus on the environment in the state's transportation system.
Andria Simmons begins a recent article with a seemingly simple question: "Is it possible to turn a highway from something that pollutes noise, air and water into an environmental scrubber that pays for its own upkeep?" That's the difficult question tackled by transportation officials in West Georgia, in overhauling a 16-mile stretch of I-85 between LaGrange and West Point.
The I-85 in this part of the state was named for the late Ray C. Anderson, famous for using his carpet company Interface as a vehicle to pioneer green business practices. Since the naming, projects to beautify the stretch of highway have grown more ambitious. "The mission now is to transform the highway into a model of green technology and innovation," according to Simmons. "Capitalizing upon government, corporate and philanthropic backing, a slate of projects are in development." Georgia Tech has also assisted in creating a baseline study introducing some of the potential for the highway to become an innovation test bed.
FULL STORY: Highway of the Future being developed in Georgia
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
LA County Receives Reconnecting Communities Grants
Seven grant awards totaling $162 million will be used for planning, capital projects, and regional partnerships to reduce environmental harm and improve access in disadvantaged communities.
Anchorage High-Speed Highway Project Met With Skepticism
The Alaska Department of Transportation and its consultants are working on a Planning and Environmental Linkages study of the Glenn-Seward Highway that bisects the middle of Anchorage, Alaska.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
Divvy Introduces E-Bike Charging Docks
New, circular docks let e-bikes charge at stations, eliminating the need for frequent battery swaps.
How Freeway Projects Impact Climate Resilience
In addition to displacement and public health impacts, highway expansions can also make communities less resilient to flooding and other climate-related disasters.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
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Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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