After reading this recent opinion piece by Bill Fulton, some pro-transit and anti-highway advocates might be thinking, "Et tu, Bill Fulton?"
A recent opinion piece by Bill Fulton, author, planner, and former politician, looks for something to love about urban highways, and finds it in the reverse commute.
"Many of the people who choose to live downtown actually work in the suburbs," writes Fulton. "And, ironically, it’s the much-maligned urban freeway system that makes this lifestyle possible."
While advocates from groups like the Congress for New Urbanism celebrate areas that have torn down freeways in urban areas, Fulton takes the perhaps less popular (among progressive urbanists, anyway) position that urban freeways are at least partly responsible for the urban renaissance. In addition to the oft-cited benefits of culture and commerce, urban housing is made more attractive by the ability to get out of the city—the reverse commute made possible by freeways like the 527 Spur in Houston or Interstate 5 in San Diego, both places that Fulton has lived.
Read the full story: In Defense of the Urban Freeway
Detroit Plans Freeway Removal To Spur Economic Development
City and state officials hope the proposal to turn part of I-375 into a walkable boulevard will help bring back businesses and economic vitality to the area.
Why a 'Marginally Useful' Minneapolis Freeway Segment Should Be Removed
Two ramps that have minimal impact on traffic could make way for apartments, commercial spaces, or much-needed parks.
TxDOT Promises to Reverse Some of the Damage Caused by Urban Freeways in Dallas
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is in the early stages of planning for two projects that could leverage plans to rebuild two freeways in the city with plan to reconnect the neighborhoods they severed.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Housing is the top priority of Seattle’s sole new councilmember
Jenks campaigned on building 1,000 new units of affordable housing.
New tax cuts may slash $1.5 billion in funding for Miami transit, public parks
Amendment 3 will save Miami-Dade homeowners $2,700 in 2028.
Arizona, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania hope to finally advance climate goals post-midterms
The three states have spent years under Republican or divided control.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority