I-95 in Philadelphia: it's time for a change

In his March 10 column distributed by the Washington Post Writers Group, Neal Peirce casts an approving eye on the move to remove sections of urban limited-access highways around the US.

What to do about a three-mile, 10-lane section of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia was the forcus of a February forum organized by Diana Lind, founder-leader of the Next American City organization, Peirce reports. 

Demolishing all of I-95 in Philadelphia would give residents full and easy access to the waterfront, open opportunities for new downtown university campuses, and generate more tax revenue for the city, as Lind sees it. 

Peirce argues that the removal of a number of urban expressways has benefited cities from New York to Portland, Oregon. A big question is where the money for such highway removal or reconstruction projects will come from. Urban residents will have to wage strong campaigns if such changes are to be widespread, he suggests.

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