Freeway Fighters Digest (week of 6/6)

Lauren MayerWeekly News Digest

Hi all,

Here is what is being said about freeway fighting this week. If you come across any articles, feel free to share and please let me know if you have any questions.

At the end of May, the Freeway Fighters Network turned one year old! We’ve covered a lot of ground over that last year and we want to chart out directions for the coming year. So if you have ~5 minutes, please take a moment to complete the Freeway Fighters Network One Year Survey: https://forms.gle/7iykg8JGRkPywJ6J8. Your input is greatly appreciated!

Also a friendly reminder that if you are interested in participating in CNU’s On the Park Bench webinar series, please respond to lmayer@cnu.org with the name of your campaign, potential speakers, and contact information by June 17.

Freeway Fighters news

I-81: Upstate NY’s biggest highway project is about to start, but maybe not where you think
Syracuse.com June 4, 2022
The massive project to rebuild Interstate 81 through Syracuse is about to begin and the first three years may not be what you’d expect.Interstate 81 

Two States Cancel Highway Expansions After Years of Planning – Route Fifty
Route Fifty June 4, 2022
It’s not common for transportation agencies to walk away from highway expansions after years of planning, but it has happened in two major metropolitan areas last month. 

City to apply for funds to cap portion of Vine Street Expressway through Chinatown
WHYY June 6, 2022
Philadelphia is taking steps to cap a portion of the Vine Street Expressway that cuts through Chinatown, a long sought-after upgrade that supporters say would help right historic inequities, while making the neighborhood a safer and healthier place to live and work.

A Bridge to Somewhere – richmondmagazine.com
Richmond Magazine June 7, 2022
When it comes to reconnecting a community, the devil’s in the details.

Driving Toward Justice: Transportation and Equity, with Regan Patterson
Resources Magazine June 8, 2022
In this week’s episode, host Daniel Raimi talks with Regan Patterson, an incoming assistant professor at UCLA who recently completed a fellowship as a Transportation Equity Research Fellow at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

WSDOT Skips Real Climate Analysis in its Highway System Plan Update – The Urbanist
The Urbanist June 8, 2022
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is in the process of updating its Highway System Plan right now.

New Stadium Interchange proposal is significantly smaller and cheaper
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel June 9, 2022
A new rendering the Wisconsin Department of Transportation is sharing with local officials shows a significantly smaller and cheaper Stadium Interchange that features a street-level Wisconsin 175 both north and south of I-94.

Why Nearly A Fifth of Pedestrians Deaths Happen on Freeways — And How to Stop It
Streetsblog USA June 10, 2022
A surprising 17 percent of U.S. pedestrian deaths last year happened on roads where people theoretically should never be walking — and that troubling finding should prompt a conversation about why so many of them are doing it anyway.

Communities Prevail in 20+ Year Struggle Against 710 Widening – Random Lengths News
Random Lengths News June 10, 2022
On May 26, the decades-long battle against widening the 710 freeway ended in victory as the Metro Board of Directors voted unanimously to support a proposal by Supervisor Janice Hahn to end the widening effort and reorient the $750 million in local sales taxes already dedicated to the project toward more just and equitable alternatives.