FREEWAYS WITHOUT FUTURES

Article image for When freeways have no futures Freeway transformation

When freeways have no futures

CNU releases is biennial report, Freeways Without Futures 2019, telling the tale of ten freeways in cities where the movement has spawned active campaigns for transformation.
BEN CROWTHER, ROBERT STEUTEVILLEAPR. 3, 2019
Article image for Restoring the heart of Treme Freeway transformation

Restoring the heart of Treme

Transforming the Claiborne Expressway in New Orleans to a boulevard like the historic Claiborne Avenue would reverse 20th Century damage to a primarily African-American neighborhood.
BEN CROWTHERAPR. 4, 2019
Article image for A boulevard rather than a freeway Freeway transformation

A boulevard rather than a freeway

I-275 was built on top of Central Avenue and split Tampa in half. Transformation into a boulevard is gaining political traction due to economic and quality of life benefits.
BEN CROWTHERAPR. 5, 2019
Article image for Ditch the ditch: Citizens respond to I-70 expansion Freeway transformation

Ditch the ditch: Citizens respond to I-70 expansion

A partly built reconstruction of the aging I-70 in Denver into a much wider sunken highway has elicited a more neighborhood-friendly proposal: Reroute the Interstate and turn the corridor into a boulevard.
BEN CROWTHERAPR. 8, 2019
Article image for Time to restore the grid Freeway transformation

Time to restore the grid

A costly freeway, feeding a shopping mall, is a poor foundation for a mid-sized city—a better choice is to invest in infrastructure that supports downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.
ROBERT STEUTEVILLEAPR. 9, 2019
Article image for Never too late to stop the bulldozer Freeway transformation

Never too late to stop the bulldozer

Thirty-seven US urban highways were halted mid-construction by the communities in their path, saving city parks and neighborhoods from demolition.
BEN CROWTHERAPR. 10, 2019
Article image for Restoring a parkway system in Buffalo Freeway transformation

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.
BEN CROWTHERAPR. 11, 2019
Article image for A chance to repeat history Freeway transformation

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.
BEN CROWTHERAPR. 12, 2019
Article image for A corridor of opportunities Freeway transformation

A corridor of opportunities

Out of all of the CNU Freeways Without Futures picks, I-345 in Dallas probably has the most potential to create new mixed-use development as it reconnects downtown to a historic neighborhood.
BEN CROWTHERAPR. 16, 2019
Article image for Crash diet for a freeway corridor Freeway transformation

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.
BEN CROWTHERAPR. 18, 2019
Article image for New York State DOT picks ‘Community Grid’ in Syracuse Freeway transformation

New York State DOT picks ‘Community Grid’ in Syracuse

Since 2008, CNU has highlighted the advantages of transforming the elevated I-81 through the heart of the city.
ROBERT STEUTEVILLEAPR. 23, 2019
Article image for Freeway cap would restore grid Freeway transformation

Freeway cap would restore grid

Since 2012, grassroots coalition Reconnect Austin has advanced an alternative, human-scaled vision for the I-35 corridor for the Texas capital city. The north-south section of I-35 that cuts through downtown Austin carries a high amount of traffic—...
BEN CROWTHERAPR. 25, 2019
Article image for Federal infrastructure bills introduce Highways-to-Boulevards pilots Freeway transformation

Federal infrastructure bills introduce Highways-to-Boulevards pilots

A pilot program proposed to fund the study and removal of highways in urban contexts, an idea of great interest to urbanists, has largely flown under the radar.
BEN CROWTHERAUG. 13, 2019
Article image for A new view for Buffalo Freeway transformation

A new view for Buffalo

With the governor’s endorsement, CNU’s long-time recommendation to transform Buffalo’s Skyway is closer to reality. The city and state have an opportunity to implement the best ideas from the top proposals.
LYNN RICHARDSSEP. 19, 2019
Article image for Supporting a federal role in highway removal Freeway transformation

Supporting a federal role in highway removal

Highways to Boulevards campaign organizers and CNU members visited 20 Congressional offices in late October, to discuss two current proposals in Congress that would offer funds for highway removal.
BEN CROWTHERNOV. 11, 2019
Article image for For Brooklyn: Streets instead of a highway Got A Minute

For Brooklyn: Streets instead of a highway

As the City of New York is talking about spending $4-8 billion on rebuilding the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE), a pair of new urbanists are proposing that a section of this Interstate be torn down and replaced by city streets.  In a guest column...
ROBERT STEUTEVILLEDEC. 13, 2019