Ben Crowther
Ben Crowther is the Advocacy Manager for America Walks, where he works with state and local advocates supporting mobility for all. Prior to joining America Walks, Ben was the program manager for the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU)’s Highways to Boulevards initiative. He also led CNU’s national advocacy for the federal Reconnecting Communities program.
Crash diet for a freeway corridor
Conversion to a boulevard would reduce the right-of-way of I-980 in Oakland by 75 percent, connecting neighborhoods and allowing mixed-use development where land now generates no tax revenues.
Restoring a parkway system in Buffalo
The Kensington and Scajaquada expressways disrupted Frederick Law Olmsted's vision and divided neighborhoods, but that damage could be undone.
A chance to repeat history
Portland, Oregon, could open up the east bank of the Willamette River to adjacent neighborhoods and duplicate the success of the removal of Harbor Drive.