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.
Next Wednesday (6/29) at 2pm ET join America Walks for a webinar featuring freeway fighters Amy Stelly, Alex Contreras, and Jay Arzu as they share their experiences organizing against building new highways and advocating for connected neighborhoods. They’ll demonstrate what’s possible when we put people before highways. Register here.
A big thank you to everyone who’s already taken the Freeway Fighter Network one year survey. If you haven’t yet and have some time, your feedback would be greatly appreciated! https://forms.gle/
Freeway Fighters news
Maryland says it could curb environmental effects of Beltway, I-270 toll lanes
The Washington Post June 17, 2022
Fourteen miles of Maryland’s Capital Beltway and Interstate 270 could be widened with express toll lanes while causing less damage to nearby trees, waterways and parkland than previously believed, according to the state’s final environmental study of the proposal released Friday.
The I-94/Stadium Interchange project is improving. But its future remains uncertain
Milwaukee Record June 18, 2022
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) held two “public involvement meetings” this week to present and discuss the latest updates to its proposed expansion and widening of the Stadium Interchange and the East-West corridor of Interstate 94.
TxDOT to demolish apartments to make way for controversial I-45 expansion near downtown …
Chron June 22, 2022
State authorities are slated to demolish hundreds of apartments in East Downtown this week to make way for an uncertain and controversial expansion of Interstate 45.
Protestors rally to save apartments from demo in wake of I-45 expansion project – ABC13
ABC13 June 22, 2022
The Texas Dept. of Transportation’s plan to expand I-45 through downtown may be paused for a federal review, but TxDOT says they will be moving forward with the demolition of the Lofts at the Ballpark Apartments.
Activists wary as City of Portland plans vote to re-start work on I-5 Rose Quarter project
BikePortland June 22, 2022
After years of back and forth between the City of Portland and the Oregon Department of Transportation on the plan to widen I-5 at the Rose Quarter in Portland, a negotiation may be back on the table.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee takes I-45 expansion project fight to Washington – KHOU
KHOU June 22, 2022
Activists with Stop TxDOT I-45 marched against TxDOT’s I-45 expansion project in downtown Houston Tuesday night.
Adams addresses the BQE – New York Amsterdam News
New York Amsterdam News June 23, 2022
Mayor Eric Adams has decided to nix former Mayor Bill De Blasio’s plans to fix up parts of the aging Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE), specifically a 1.5 mile, triple layered section of the highway underneath the iconic promenade located in downtown Brooklyn.
Greens driving opposition to Turnpike expansion – Politico
Politico June 23, 2022
A $4.7 billion plan to expand eight miles of highway leading to the Holland Tunnel is drawing criticism from New Jersey environmental groups, reports POLITICO’s Ry Rivard.
Stop TxDOT I-45 Community Organizers Successfully Pause TxDOT Demolition Permit
Texas Signal June 23, 2022
Stop TxDOT I-45 organizers and protestors successfully paused a demolition permit from the Texas Department of Transportation’s I-45 expansion plan, which would have demolished more than 375 housing units in East Downtown Houston.
Turner calls on TxDOT to pledge ‘net-zero housing loss’ during I-45 expansion, but agency …
Chron June 23, 2022
Mayor Sylvester Turner on Wednesday blasted the Texas Department of Transportation’s decision to demolish hundreds of apartments in East Downtown, the same day city permit officials announced they would put a temporary pause on giving the state agency the go-ahead to knock down a trio of buildings to make way for a controversial freeway expansion.
Protestors Condemn Demolition of Apartments for Houston Freeway Expansion
The Real Deal June 24, 2022
Community activists in Houston are protesting a Texas Department of Transportation plan to demolish an apartment complex for a $9 billion freeway expansion in the heart of downtown Houston, despite the project being put on hold for a federal review.
St. Petersburg mobility study moves forward – Tampa Bay Business Journal
The Business Journals June 24, 2022
The mobility plan is meant to complement the city’s complete streets initiative, while also building on already-planned projects.