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

The Drive for Dollars explores 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. 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: Paperback / softback
Length: 360 pages
Publication date: 24 April 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 origins and development of freeways as the centerpiece of U.S. urban transportation systems. 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.

The development of freeways, the authors argue, was inextricably intertwined with money. They explore how the political and financial decisions made during the construction of freeways influenced the spatial distribution of urban development, the allocation of resources, and the social and economic consequences of these decisions. The authors also examine how the rise of the automobile and the increasing demand for transportation shaped the development of transportation finance systems and the policies that govern them.

In the current era of transportation finance system crossroads, the book offers valuable insights into how we can best fund and plan transportation in the future. The authors draw on these lessons to propose ways forward to pay for transportation more equitably, provide travelers with better mobility, and increase environmental sustainability and urban livability.

One of the key themes of the book is the need for a more integrated and comprehensive approach to transportation planning and funding. The authors argue that traditional transportation planning approaches, which often focus on individual modes of transportation or specific projects, are insufficient to address the complex and interconnected challenges facing our cities and neighborhoods today. Instead, they advocate for a holistic approach that considers the needs of all transportation users, the impacts of transportation on the environment, and the social and economic benefits of transportation investments.

To achieve this, the authors propose a range of strategies, including the use of public-private partnerships, congestion pricing, and the development of alternative transportation modes such as public transit, biking, and walking. They also emphasize the importance of transparency and accountability in transportation finance systems, and the need for policymakers to prioritize the needs of underserved communities and marginalized populations.

Another important theme of the book is the impact of freeways on urban communities and neighborhoods. The authors argue that freeways have had a profound and lasting impact on the social and economic fabric of American cities, dividing communities, displacing residents, and contributing to environmental degradation. They explore how freeways have shaped the spatial distribution of urban development, creating barriers to social mobility and economic opportunity, and contributing to the segregation of communities of color and low-income communities.

To address these impacts, the authors propose a range of strategies, including the development of urban TODs (transit-oriented developments), the preservation of affordable housing, and the promotion of mixed-income and mixed-use developments. They also emphasize the importance of community engagement and participation in transportation planning and decision-making processes, to ensure that the voices

In conclusion, The Drive for Dollars is a thought-provoking and important book that sheds light on the complex and multifaceted relationship between finance, freeways, and urban form in the 20th century and their enduring impact on American cities and neighborhoods in the 21st century. The authors offer valuable insights into the origins.

Weight: 548g
Dimension: 155 x 235 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197601525