Freeway Revolts: Why not the Twin Cities? Thomas More Nick Dobda Xiaozheng He

Why Did Revolts Originate? Prior to 1916 Prior to 1916 Federal Aid Road Act (1916) Federal Aid Road Act (1916) Federal Highway Act (1921, 1934, 1944, 1952) Federal Highway Act (1921, 1934, 1944, 1952) Federal-Aid Highway Act (1956) Federal-Aid Highway Act (1956) From dirt roads, to surfaced roads, to a network of roads. That was the plan

The National Highway System Interstate System Interstate System Conceived in the 1930’s Conceived in the 1930’s Funded by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 Funded by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 Planned 41,000 miles of road Planned 41,000 miles of road To be completed in within 20 years To be completed in within 20 years 35,000 miles actually built by ,000 miles actually built by 1975

Problems Along the Way Designed by State Engineers Designed by State Engineers Due to poor planning, problems arose that were not designed for Due to poor planning, problems arose that were not designed for Miami, FL (Overton) Miami, FL (Overton) Nashville, TN Nashville, TN Other Cities Other Cities Minneapolis? Minneapolis? Engineering Solutions to Congestion Engineering Solutions to Congestion

St. Paul: I-94, Two Perspectives Engineers Engineers Ultimately in charge of route selection Ultimately in charge of route selection Chose route that would reduce congestion the most Chose route that would reduce congestion the most Use of “Control points” and “Desire Lines” Use of “Control points” and “Desire Lines” Chose most inexpensive route to construct Chose most inexpensive route to construct City Planners City Planners Routes based on effect on local communities Routes based on effect on local communities Old Planners disagreed on route selection Old Planners disagreed on route selection Newer Planners eventually agreed on routes Newer Planners eventually agreed on routes

Activism & Freeway Revolt Beginning in the late 1950’s thru the 1980’s, civic activism against freeway construction Beginning in the late 1950’s thru the 1980’s, civic activism against freeway construction As the highway interstate system developed, questions arose about where highways would go in cities. The answer: existing neighborhoods As the highway interstate system developed, questions arose about where highways would go in cities. The answer: existing neighborhoods Feds, States, & Localities tried to override local citizen concerns Feds, States, & Localities tried to override local citizen concerns Environmental, energy and housing concerns were driving forces for activists Environmental, energy and housing concerns were driving forces for activists

San Francisco San Francisco Chronicle publishes map of proposed city freeway routes San Francisco Chronicle publishes map of proposed city freeway routes Construction of the Embarcadero Freeway begins Construction of the Embarcadero Freeway begins

Embarcadero Freeway

The Road to Nowhere.

Freeway Revolt Across the USA Other proposed and existing freeway systems became the focus of activists, and where either halted or torn down Other proposed and existing freeway systems became the focus of activists, and where either halted or torn down Cities including Portland, OR, Baltimore Cities including Portland, OR, Baltimore Other examples include Boston’s “Big Dig” project Other examples include Boston’s “Big Dig” project

Moses v. Jacobs Robert Moses: Visionary or Scoundrel? Robert Moses: Visionary or Scoundrel? Jane Jacobs: Activist or Development Thorn? Jane Jacobs: Activist or Development Thorn?

Questions Where Did Revolts Come From? Where Did Revolts Come From? Public Responses to Freeways Public Responses to Freeways How Do We Prevent Revolts? How Do We Prevent Revolts? What About the Twin Cities? What About the Twin Cities?

What is Government Facing? Transportation efficiency requirement Transportation efficiency requirement Increasing traffic congestion Increasing traffic congestion Environmentalism Environmentalism Energy shortage Energy shortage

How Can the Conflicts be Solved? Expand road capacity Expand road capacity Add new links (better land use and planning) Add new links (better land use and planning) Add new lanes Add new lanes Develop public transportation Develop public transportation Rail Rail Bus rapid transit Bus rapid transit Restrict traffic demands Restrict traffic demands Congestion Charge Congestion Charge HOV lanes HOV lanes Promote other alternatives Promote other alternatives Telework Telework Walk and bicycle Walk and bicycle

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) “BRT is a complete rapid transit system that provides: “BRT is a complete rapid transit system that provides: The performance and feel of rail at a The performance and feel of rail at a Fraction of the cost” Fraction of the cost” Many technologies related Many technologies related Busway plan Busway plan Fare collection Fare collection Route design Route design ITS ITS Access route Access route

BRT Planning

Car Pooling High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes California: SR91 California: SR91 Texas: Katy Freeway Texas: Katy Freeway Colorado: I-25 (conversion from HOV lanes) Colorado: I-25 (conversion from HOV lanes)

Minnesota HOT Dynamic pricing Dynamic pricing Spread the flow at peak hour Spread the flow at peak hour Finance road system Finance road system Manage congestion Manage congestion Reduce pollution Reduce pollution

Congestion Charge Singapore — the first city had this policy in 1998 Singapore — the first city had this policy in 1998 London — the largest city to do so London — the largest city to do so Other cities include: Other cities include: Oslo Oslo Bergen Bergen Trondheim Trondheim

Telework “Employees perform their usual job duties away from their central workplace.” “Employees perform their usual job duties away from their central workplace.” Depending on newly-developed technologies: telephone, fax, Internet… Depending on newly-developed technologies: telephone, fax, Internet… Work trips reduce Work trips reduce Flexible Working Schedule Flexible Working Schedule

Where Will it Stop? A transportation infrastructure has to go somewhere. A transportation infrastructure has to go somewhere. Rail lines Rail lines Power lines Power lines Pipelines Pipelines If not here, then where? If not here, then where? Light Rail Revolt? Light Rail Revolt? NIMBY NIMBY

Questions Can building a new rail line solve congestion? Can there be Rail Revolts? Or, Toll Revolts? Can building a new rail line solve congestion? Can there be Rail Revolts? Or, Toll Revolts? Is it ethical for government officials (city, state, and or national level) to use highways to develop cities as they see fit? Is it ethical for government officials (city, state, and or national level) to use highways to develop cities as they see fit? Urban Renewal programs? Urban Renewal programs? Do highways get designed to develop cities, or do cities end up getting developed around highways? Do highways get designed to develop cities, or do cities end up getting developed around highways? Won’t a city develop around a highway wherever the highway is located? Won’t a city develop around a highway wherever the highway is located? Who should have the final decision on if a highway is good for a city? Who should have the final decision on if a highway is good for a city? Does the Public know what it good for itself? Does the Public know what it good for itself? Have we learned from our mistakes in the past? Have we learned from our mistakes in the past? Can there be more freeway revolts in the future? Can there be more freeway revolts in the future?