Stretching through suburban Maryland, the Intercounty Connector was sold on promises of boosting development and relieving congestion. Two years after it opened, users are few, while its drain on state transportation finances continues to grow.
"The 18.8-mile [Intercounty Connector]—the first stretch of which opened two and a half years ago after great hype and amid great controversy—is the road less traveled," reports Eugene L. Meyer. "Traffic counts are well below early projections, and revenue from tolls—needed to pay off the bonds that were sold to build the road—is far less than originally anticipated."
"The story of the ICC is a bit like the invasion of Iraq, a march to war in which the highway hawks—developers, development lawyers and contractors—held sway while critics were ridiculed as knee-jerk tree huggers and opponents of economic growth," writes Meyer. "The ICC is the Pac-Man of roads, critics charge, eating up all the transportation dollars in sight, now and for years to come."
FULL STORY: The Road Less Traveled
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Texas Approves Plan that Calls for $104B for Roads and Highways
The latest iteration of Texas’s 10-year unified transportation plan sets a record for highway spending in the state.
Opinion: Montgomery County Regulations Stifle Nightlife
The county hasn’t acted on the recommendations of its own Nighttime Economy Task Force, which suggested ways to improve the business climate for restaurants and nightclubs to draw younger residents to the region.
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.
How Project Connect Would Change ‘The Drag’
A popular — and sometimes deadly — Austin road will exchange car lanes for light rail.
Milwaukee Road to Get Complete Streets Upgrades
The city will reduce vehicle lanes and build a protected multi-use trail including bioswales and other water retention features on its ‘secret highway.’
Tackling Soil Contamination With Nature-Based Solutions
Los Angeles County residents and experts are turning to nature-based methods like bioremediation to address long-standing and fire-exacerbated soil contamination without resorting to costly and disruptive removal.
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