Without funding for a reconstruction project, repairs will continue on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway for the foreseeable future. Photo by Liz Robbins for NY Times
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As you may be aware, the SMTC and the NYSDOT hosted the first series of public workshops for The I-81 Challenge this past spring. The I-81 Challenge May 2011 Public Workshops Summary Report summarizes the findings and input from those workshops. You can now download and read the full summary on our website. “Our report makes interesting reading,” said Meghan Vitale, SMTC Principal Transportation Planner. “Community opinion is fairly evenly divided between keep...
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If you were unable to attend the first round of public workshops for The I-81 Challenge, you can still participate! You can experience all aspects of the public workshop from the comfort of your home or office through The I-81 Challenge virtual workshop. The virtual workshop is designed to replicate the in-person workshop – you’ll find the same information, videos, and opportunities to provide feedback that you would if you joined us in-person at the Oncenter....
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Freeways have been constructed through the downtowns of many cities across the United States. Many of these highways were constructed in the 1960s or 1970s, and were intended to ensure economic viability in an era when suburban growth, along with car ownership and use, was accelerating. It was feared that without the direct connections that highways provided, cities would die. At the time, there were differing opinions about the decisions to locate highways through th...
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Without funding for a reconstruction project, repairs will continue on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway for the foreseeable future. Photo by Liz Robbins for NY Times
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The Times-Picayune in New Orleans posted a story and image gallery describing the impact of the Interstate Highway system on New Orleans. Click here to read the article. Photo by Times-Picayune
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The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has partnered with the City of Somerville, MA on a planning study to help determine the future of the Route 28 corridor. This study, called “Grounding McGrath” responds to a number of issues impacting the corridor: - The aging Route 28 McCarthy Overpass will require significant repairs in the future - Extension of the MBTA Green Line, along with other substantial planning efforts, will »
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In a recent article titled The Tricky Second Wave of Urban Highway Removals, The Atlantic takes a look at highway removal projects across the country and notes the “culture clash” that is often revealed in debates about the future of elevated highways in American cities. Photo by Reuters
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Recently, Seattle drivers experienced the first actual traffic revision associated with the Alaskan Way Viaduct tunnel project. To keep traffic moving, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is building a two-way detour underneath the viaduct. Photo by WSDOT
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In late November, the New York Post reported that state and federal officials planned to abandon efforts to modernize aging stretches of the Brooklyn-Queens and Gowanus expressways, both part of Interstate 278. Weeks later, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz issued a letter urging Governor Andrew Cuomo to reinstate the canceled Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) and get the projects back on track. While efforts will continue to make sure »
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In a recent Year In Review list, the Syracuse New Times considers The I-81 Challenge as an interesting news item from 2011. The New Times encourages readers to participate in this important decision-making process about the future of I-81. Visit our website to learn more about what has been happening with The I-81 Challenge, and to see how you can stay involved in the future. Photo via Syracuse New Times Year In Review.
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The Madrid Río park in Spain has transformed a formerly neglected urban area into new public space. In a recent article, the New York Times takes a closer look at this park, as well as other similar projects around the globe. Read the article to learn more about how this park has changed the urban landscape in Madrid. Photo by James Rajotte for The New York Times.
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The Public Participation Program for The I-81 Challenge has allowed us to gather feedback from the public through: - Meetings with the three committees involved in The I-81 Challenge - The Study Advisory Committee - The Community Liaison Committee - The Municipal Liaison Committee - Focus groups - Two questionnaires - First series of public workshops - Outreach to populations with Limited English Proficiency - Small group community meetings How does »
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