The plan to replace the Interstate 81 elevated highway through Syracuse, NY is now down to two options after the New York DOT nixed the tunnel plan.
The elevated portion of Interstate 81 running through Syracuse, New York may stay up, may go down, but it will not go below. Charley Hannagan of Syracuse.com/The Post Standard reports that the New York Department of Transportation has narrowed down the options for the elevated highway down to two: one would see the elevated highway modernized and widened and the other would see the highway removed with traffic funneled onto the existing street grid. Hannagan reports that at a cost of $3.1 billion to build, the tunnel option was deemed too expensive and would take too long to construct.
The process for replacing the aging highway, deemed a "classic planning blunder" by Governor Andrew Cuomo, started two years ago with four options, including leaving the existing structure in place. Over the next few weeks the state DOT will begin holding community outreach meetings to get public feedback on the two options.
FULL STORY: New York DOT drops tunnel idea for new I-81 through Syracuse; it's down to 2 options
Can Reparations Right the Wrongs Caused by a Highway?
An elevated highway destroyed an African American community in Syracuse, New York. Is just removing it enough?
Urban Revitalization Through Highway Teardowns
Alana Semuels, staff writer for The Atlantic, examines highway teardowns beginning with the San Francisco Embarcadero in 1989 to see how they have worked in terms of revitalizing poorer areas or restoring the urban fabric that they destroyed.
Syracuse Confronts 'Most Important Civic Decision in 60 Years'
To demolish, or not to demolish? As Syracuse considers what to do with its aged elevated highway, special interests are mobilizing to prevent tearing down the crumbling I-81 viaduct and replacing it with an urban boulevard, says David M. Rubin.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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