The Congress for the New Urbanism releases a Top 10 list highlighting the worst, most ready-to-be-junked urban freeways. New Orleans, Syracuse, and Detroit make the list. Boulevards are a viable and much-needed alternative, says CNU.
Back in the days of Robert Moses, it became a sign of progress to thrust freeways directly into and through American cities. A handful of grassroots groups fought back and stopped some freeways at the gates, but most cities gained elevated highways and lost historic neighborhoods. But there is a growing understanding that turning urban highway stubs into at-grade boulevards restores the urban fabric, opens up new and valuable infill opportunities, and still manages to move cars efficiently.
The Top 10 Freeways Without Futures are not ranked by CNU, but Claiborne Expressway in New Orleans is presented first and makes a compelling case. New York State, Robert Moses' bailiwick, takes up 3 of the 10 top slots with freeways in Rochester, Syracuse and Buffalo. CNU selected the Top 10 by looking at factors such as the age of the freeway, the development potential, the timeliness of the project, and local support for the teardown.
Click through to cnu.org for the full list.
FULL STORY: CNU Selects the Top 10 "Freeways Without Futures" for 2014
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research