Primer: The Interstate Highway System

This week Political Union will be debating whether or not the establishment of the interstate highway system has been a net positive for the United States. By now, you may have seen this viral map: what Vox calls “Gen-Z’s High Speed Rail Meme Dream”.  You may have also heard about Gen-Z’s refusal of car-culture (though some do say this is a mirage). This refusal is going to be hard to act on, though, since cars are heavily ingrained into American society and culture. A central aspect of this entanglement is the interstate highway system: a network of controlled-access highways that stretch across the United States and are estimated to carry 25% of the nation’s traffic. Though they connect people across the country, Americans are divided in their opinion on the extent to which they have been a benefit. If you want a quick rundown of what arguments for both sides might look like, here is a pro and con list [5 minute read] of the system!

If you want to delve into this issue a bit more before the debate, here are some articles you might find helpful!

Firstly, this letter by Seppo Silan, an administrator at the Federal Highway Administration, on his thoughts on the intention behind and nuanced impacts of the Interstate Highway System, and his personal experiences on the road. [10 minute read]

You might also want to read this article, written by David Karas, on the disparate effects of the highway system, especially concerning its impact on marginalized communities. [30 minute read]

Also, check out this article by the Harvard Gazette about how students conceptualize redesigning how public land might otherwise be used if the interstate highway was removed and the complex considerations that go into the thought of restoring communities impacted by its construction. [10 minute read]

This research by TRIP—a non profit that aims to improve transportation—asserts that the interstate highway system is central to the American economy and American culture—adds to existing research that reports on the deterioration of highway conditions, and provides recommendations. [45 minute read]
Finally, check out this article by Vox written in 2016 on highways’ impacts on American cities, their historical context, and their impact on our current moment. [8 minute read]

National system of interstate and defense highways : as of June, 1958 is licensed under Public Domain Mark 1.0