Around the country, cities and states are starting to listen to decades-old demands to remove freeways that have displaced and fractured communities.

Writing in the Congress for New Urbanism’s (CNU) Public Square, Lauren Mayer reports on some of the freeways most nominated for CNU’s next biannual Freeways Without Futures report, which “highlights the efforts of local campaign organizers and activists seeking to revitalize their communities by dismantling the city highways that burden them with the significant health hazards of vehicle exhaust, a loss of local businesses and services, and streets that are hostile to pedestrians.”
So far, nominees include several major freeways in New York State, including I-81 in Syracuse, Buffalo’s Route 5 and Skyway, and the Inner Loop in Rochester. In New Orleans, a decade-long fight to remove the Claiborne Expressway is inching forward as the city’s mayor and local U.S. representative became part of a “growing consensus” that restoring Claiborne Avenue is “the right course of action for the Tremé neighborhood.”
Across the northern border, efforts to tear down Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway are bearing fruit. After one portion was removed in 1999, the city removed more ramps in 2021 as part of the Gardiner Expressway Strategic Rehabilitation Plan, which “will realign the expressway and help transform the area to improve transportation corridors and provide more efficient public transit and new public facilities.”
FULL STORY: News on the most nominated ‘Freeways Without Futures’

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Washington Legislature Passes Rent Increase Cap
A bill that caps rent increases at 7 percent plus inflation is headed to the governor’s desk.

From Planning to Action: How LA County Is Rethinking Climate Resilience
Chief Sustainability Officer Rita Kampalath outlines the County’s shift from planning to implementation in its climate resilience efforts, emphasizing cross-departmental coordination, updated recovery strategies, and the need for flexible funding.

New Mexico Aging Department Commits to Helping Seniors Age ‘In Place’ and ‘Autonomously’ in New Draft Plan
As New Mexico’s population of seniors continues to grow, the state’s aging department is proposing expanded initiatives to help seniors maintain their autonomy while also supporting family caregivers.
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