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Just finished Divided Highways by Tom Lewis, an impressively readable account of building the US interstate system.
A
about the history of urban interstates, which have been problematic from the get-go 
A
about the history of urban interstates, which have been problematic from the get-go
2/ Federal officials always suspected that a national highway system would be bad for cities.
Henry Wallace, FDR’s Secretary of Agriculture in the 1930s:
"The effect on real estate values in the large cities may not, of course, be altogether happy.”
Henry Wallace, FDR’s Secretary of Agriculture in the 1930s:
"The effect on real estate values in the large cities may not, of course, be altogether happy.”
3/ But the Public Roads Bureau needed urban House reps to pass 1956's interstate bill.
Its "designation of additional miles of Interstate for cities had been shrewd. Suddenly scores of [reps] had dramatic pictures of just how the new Interstate would benefit...their districts.”
Its "designation of additional miles of Interstate for cities had been shrewd. Suddenly scores of [reps] had dramatic pictures of just how the new Interstate would benefit...their districts.”
4/ In 1959 Eisenhower was livid when stuck in traffic near DC due to interstate construction.
“He understood that the interstates were meant to link cities, but he had no idea they would go into them...Who in his administration, the president demanded, allowed this to happen?”
“He understood that the interstates were meant to link cities, but he had no idea they would go into them...Who in his administration, the president demanded, allowed this to happen?”
5/ The answer is that federal highway officials joined auto interests like AAA and (often) urban chambers of commerce to push for interstates that sliced straight into cities.
That wasn’t Eisenhower’s intent, but he didn't stop it.
That wasn’t Eisenhower’s intent, but he didn't stop it.
6/ Seems bad:
“Mayors knew their greatest need was for an integrated system of roads and mass transportation, not just interstate[s] tearing through their cities; yet the fear of losing the 90% federal share of financing…was so great that they chose to deal with the devil."
![6/ Seems bad:“Mayors knew their greatest need was for an integrated system of roads and mass transportation, not just interstate[s] tearing through their cities; yet the fear of losing the 90% federal share of financing…was so great that they chose to deal with the devil."](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Efdd0MJWoAAVs35.png "6/ Seems bad:“Mayors knew their greatest need was for an integrated system of roads and mass transportation, not just interstate[s] tearing through their cities; yet the fear of losing the 90% federal share of financing…was so great that they chose to deal with the devil.\"")
“Mayors knew their greatest need was for an integrated system of roads and mass transportation, not just interstate[s] tearing through their cities; yet the fear of losing the 90% federal share of financing…was so great that they chose to deal with the devil."
7/ With protests growing, it was Pres. Nixon (yep, Nixon) who finally allowed the Highway Trust Fund to pay for urban mass transportation.
He said let's not let “our children grow up in cities which are strangled with traffic, racked by noise, and choked by pollution."
Amen.
He said let's not let “our children grow up in cities which are strangled with traffic, racked by noise, and choked by pollution."
Amen.
8/ An interesting read throughout, here is the craziest thing I learned from the book:
In 1963 federal officials considered using *22 nuclear bombs* to clear passage for I-40 in California's Bristol Mountains.
Seriously.
In 1963 federal officials considered using *22 nuclear bombs* to clear passage for I-40 in California's Bristol Mountains.
Seriously.
9/ Finally, if you've gotten this far, check out this working paper from @philadelphiafed about the myriad problems urban interstates have created for cities: (h/t @greg_shill)
https://www.philadelphiafed.org/-/media/research-and-data/publications/working-papers/2019/wp19-29.pdf
https://www.philadelphiafed.org/-/media/research-and-data/publications/working-papers/2019/wp19-29.pdf
Have to add this:
With a h/t to @KostelecPlan, here's the official record of Eisenhower fulminating against urban interstates during a White House meeting in 1960:
https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/research/online-documents/interstate-highway-system/1960-04-08-meeting.pdf
With a h/t to @KostelecPlan, here's the official record of Eisenhower fulminating against urban interstates during a White House meeting in 1960:
https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/research/online-documents/interstate-highway-system/1960-04-08-meeting.pdf
