The Drive for Dollars: How Fiscal Politics Shaped Urban Freeways and Transformed American Cities

The Drive for Dollars explores the role of finance,freeways,and urban form in the 20th century and their enduring impact on American cities and neighborhoods in the 21st century. It reveals how the development of freeways was inextricably intertwined with money and offers ways to fund and plan transportation more equitably, provide travelers with better mobility, and increase environmental sustainability and urban livability.

Format: Hardback
Length: 360 pages
Publication date: 21 February 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

The story of the interplay between finance, freeways, and urban form in the 20th century and their enduring impact on American cities and neighborhoods in the 21st century is a complex and multifaceted one. In The Drive for Dollars, Brian D. Taylor, Eric A. Morris, and Jeffrey R. Brown delve into the largely misunderstood history of how freeways became the centerpiece of U.S. urban transportation systems, and the crucial, though often overlooked, role of fiscal politics in bringing them about. The authors chronicle how the ways in which we both raise and spend transportation revenue have shaped our transportation system and the lives of those who use it, from the era before the automobile to the present day. They focus on how the development of one revolutionary type of road, the freeway, was inextricably intertwined with money.

With the nation's transportation finance system at a crossroads today, this book sheds light on how we can best fund and plan transportation in the future. The authors draw on these lessons to offer ways forward to pay for transportation more equitably, provide travelers with better mobility, and increase environmental sustainability and urban livability.

The rise of freeways in the 20th century was driven by a combination of economic, political, and technological factors. The automobile industry, in particular, played a significant role in shaping the development of the freeway system. The rise of the automobile industry in the early 20th century led to a demand for more efficient transportation systems to move people and goods from one place to another. Freeways, with their high-speed lanes and controlled access, were seen as a solution to this demand.

However, the development of freeways was not without its challenges. One of the biggest challenges was the cost of building and maintaining freeways. The construction of freeways required massive amounts of capital investment, and the maintenance of freeways was also expensive. This led to a debate over who should pay for the construction and maintenance of freeways.

Fiscal politics played a crucial role in shaping the development of the freeway system. The federal government provided significant funding for the construction of freeways through the Highway system, known as the Interstate Highway System. However, state and local governments also played a significant role in funding the construction of freeways. State and local governments often provided funding for the construction of freeways in exchange for the right paragraph:

The development of freeways also had significant impacts on urban form and urban sprawl. Freeways facilitated the movement of people and goods from one place to another, but they also contributed to the segregation of different communities and the destruction of urban neighborhoods. Freeways cut through urban areas, dividing them into separate parts, and created barriers between different neighborhoods. This led to the development of urban sprawl, where people and businesses moved to the suburbs to avoid the congestion and pollution of the city center.

The enduring impact of freeways on American cities and neighborhoods in the 21st century is a complex and multifaceted one. On the one hand, freeways have provided a significant boost to economic growth. Freeways have facilitated the movement of people and goods, which has led to increased economic activity and job creation. Freeways have also provided access to transportation for people who may not have had access to it before, such as low-income individuals and people with disabilities.

On the other hand, freeways have also had significant negative impacts on urban form and urban sprawl. Freeways have contributed to the segregation of different communities and the destruction of urban neighborhoods. Freeways have also contributed to air pollution and traffic congestion, which have negative impacts on public health and the environment. Freeways have also contributed to the loss of green space and the destruction of natural habitats.

To address these challenges, there are a number of ways that we can work to improve the development of freeways and their impact on urban form and urban sprawl. One way to address these challenges is to invest in public transportation. Public transportation can provide a alternative to driving, which can reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. Public transportation can also provide access to transportation for people who may not have access to it before, such as low-income individuals and people with disabilities.

Another way to address these challenges is to promote the development of mixed-use development. Mixed-use development is a type of development that combines residential, commercial, and recreational uses in one location. Mixed-use development can help to reduce the need for driving and promote the development of walkable and bikeable communities. Mixed-use development can also help to preserve green space and natural habitats.

Finally, we can work to promote the development of smart growth. Smart growth is a type of development that promotes the development of compact and mixed-use communities that are designed to be sustainable and livable. Smart growth communities are designed to be walkable and bikeable, and they are designed to be accessible to public transportation. Smart growth communities are also designed to be sustainable and to promote the use of renewable energy sources.

In conclusion, the story of the interplay between finance, freeways, and urban form in the 20th century and their enduring impact on American cities and neighborhoods in the 21st century is a complex and multifaceted one. The development of freeways was driven by a combination of economic, political, and technological factors, and fiscal politics played a crucial role. The rise paragraph:

The enduring impact of freeways on American cities and neighborhoods in the 21st century is a complex and multifaceted one. On the one hand, freeways have provided a significant boost to economic activity. Freeways have facilitated the movement of people and goods, which has led to increased economic and job creation. Freeways have also provided access to transportation for people who may not have had access to it before, such as low-income individuals and people with disabilities.

On the other hand, freeways have also had significant negative impacts on urban form and urban sprawl. Freeways have contributed to the segregation of different communities and the destruction of urban neighborhoods. Freeways have also contributed to air pollution and traffic congestion, which have negative impacts on public health and the environment. Freeways have also contributed to the loss of green space and the destruction of natural habitats.

To address these challenges, there are a number of ways that we can work to improve the development of freeways and their impact on urban form and urban sprawl. One way to address these challenges is to invest in public transportation. Public transportation can provide a alternative to driving, which can reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. Public transportation can also provide access to transportation for people who may not have access to it before, such as low-income individuals and people with disabilities.

Another way to address these challenges is to promote the development of mixed-use development. Mixed-use development is a type of development that combines residential, commercial, and recreational uses in one location. Mixed-use development can help to reduce the need for driving and promote the development of walkable and bikeable communities. Mixed-use development can also help to preserve green space and natural habitats.

Finally, we can work to promote the development of smart growth. Smart growth is a type of development that promotes the development of compact and mixed-use communities that are designed to be sustainable and livable. Smart growth communities are designed to be walkable and bikeable, and they are designed to be accessible to public transportation. Smart growth communities are also designed to be sustainable and to promote the use of renewable energy sources.

Weight: 674g
Dimension: 160 x 243 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197601518