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.
Join us next week for our Freeway Fighters Monthly Meetup. The meeting is on Wednesday, March 29, 2023⋅4:00 – 5:00pm. Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84259004521
Also, submissions to U.S. PIRG’s Highway Boondoggle Report are due Wednesday, March 29. The purpose of this eighth edition of Highway Boondoggles is to continue drawing attention to wasteful and damaging highway projects – both new roads and expanded road capacity. Please send in your nominations to Laura Davis at ldavis@pirg.org.
Freeway Fighters News
Hochul, Secretary Buttigieg announce “Reconnecting Communities” funding – WHAM
WHAM March 18, 2023
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined Gov. Kathy Hochul in Buffalo Friday — announcing some federal funding coming to New York state-and the governor’s home town specifically.
A divide over how to heal a community divided by a highway – Marketplace.org
Marketplace.org March 18, 2023
Throughout the middle of the last century, highways destroyed and devastated many Black neighborhoods.
Buttigieg gets firsthand look at Buffalo neighborhood plan – niagara-gazette.com
Niagara-gazette.com March 18, 2023
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was in Buffalo on Friday to see firsthand how the proposed Kensington Expressway transformation can serve as a national model and meet with community members.
Highway reconstruction tries to repair historic mistakes – Spartan Newsroom
Spartan Newsroom – Michigan State University March 18, 2023
With reconstruction planned for Detroit’s I-375, other Michigan highways with a similar past of dividing Black communities are being looked at as state road officials consider ways to remedy historic mistakes.
Highway to Nowhere: Residents contemplate redevelopment – The Baltimore Banner
The Baltimore Banner March 18, 2023
Ever since a 1.4-mile stretch of highway was built and never completed in West Baltimore, it has defined the neighborhoods around it.
Activists Slam Biden Administration for Reversing Climate and Equity Guidance on Highway …
Inside Climate News March 19, 2023
Environmental justice activists are chastising the Biden administration’s recent decision to rescind federal guidance that urged states to consider climate change and equity when tapping the $110 billion in federal infrastructure money that’s coming their way for roads, bridges and major projects.
South Park rightly in the drivers seat on fate of Highway 99 – The Seattle Times
The Seattle Times March 20, 2023
An idea to remove a stretch of state highway in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood got a big vote of confidence from the federal government last month.
Austin awarded $1.12M to study I-35 divide
Axios March 21, 2023
In an attempt to reverse the socioeconomic harm of planning decisions made decades ago, the federal government is doling out $1 billion — including more than $1.12 million to Austin — over five years to remove highways that divide communities.
Tampa will seek a developer to integrate affordable housing with new downtown I-275 ramp
The Business Journals March 21, 2023
U.S. Department of Transportation officials visited Tampa last week to tout a new grant which may spur a new housing development.
Analysis: City Ignored BQE Panel Recs To Ease Local Traffic From Two-Lane Conversion
Streetsblog NYC March 21, 2023
The city has failed to adopt key recommendations by its own appointed experts to curb congestion near the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway after officials reduced the highway from six to four lanes — and the Adams administration may be now using that same congestion as a justification for building a wider highway.