Highways, Autonomy, and Community Impact

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The chapter explores the historical development of highways in the US, the allure of cars for autonomy, and the consequences of highway expansions on minority neighborhoods. It delves into the political and ideological beliefs surrounding driving, induced demand, and misconceptions about congestion solutions. The discussion also highlights community impacts, displacement issues, and grassroots efforts against highway expansions, emphasizing the engagement of young people in fighting for environmental justice.

Megan Kimble is the former executive editor of The Texas Observer and has written for The New York Times, Texas Monthly, and The Guardian. Her new book is City Limits: Infrastructure, Inequality, and the Future of America’s Highways.

“I have never lived in a city that was not wrapped in highways. It’s hard for me to imagine anything else. And I think that’s true for a lot of people today. ... [But] we have known since the origins of the interstate highways program that building highways through cities doesn’t fix traffic. And yet we keep doing it. To me, that really fueled a lot of the book. It wasn’t supposed to be this way.”

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