EPISODE · Apr 2, 2024 · 37 MIN
29 / A Texas-sized mistake: highway expansion in Austin (& other lone star cities) / with author Megan Kimble
from good traffic. · host Brad Biehl
Megan Kimble — Journalist and author of new book City Limits: infrastructure, inequality, and the future of American highways — is in good traffic to discuss the most infamous part of our cities. Megan contextualizes the current fight over the widening of I-35 through downtown Austin, navigating a freeway-crazed Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and extensive research into the relationships between American cities and their highways. We talk the history, present struggles, and future ramifications of investing in auto-centric infrastructure. Megan’s new book is out today, April 2nd, wherever you buy your books. We discuss: 00:00 Megan Kimble is in good traffic. 01:34 Urbanist origin story: Tucson to Austin. 03:24 Texas' current highway expansion fights (in Austin, Dallas, and Houston). 05:08 I-35 expansion in Austin. 08:33 Funding transit vs. highways in Texas. 11:31 Grassroots movements and state decisions. 17:56 The case for removing urban highways. 19:41 Model highway removal projects in Rochester, New York. 27:09 More on Tucson urbanism. 29:55 The racial context of American highways. 35:49 A walkable collegiate commute in Tucson. 37:34 Where to find Megan’s new book. For context: Megan’s book — City Limits: infrastructure, inequality, and the future of American highways — out now. On Austin’s current I-35 challenge. Connect with Megan: On Twitter. On Instagram. Connecting with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok. On LinkedIn.
What this episode covers
Megan Kimble — Journalist and author of new book City Limits: infrastructure, inequality, and the future of American highways — is in good traffic to discuss the most infamous part of our cities. Megan contextualizes the current fight over the widening of I-35 through downtown Austin, navigating a freeway-crazed Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and extensive research into the relationships between American cities and their highways. We talk the history, present struggles, and future ramifications of investing in auto-centric infrastructure. Megan’s new book is out today, April 2nd, wherever you buy your books. We discuss: 00:00 Megan Kimble is in good traffic. 01:34 Urbanist origin story: Tucson to Austin. 03:24 Texas' current highway expansion fights (in Austin, Dallas, and Houston). 05:08 I-35 expansion in Austin. 08:33 Funding transit vs. highways in Texas. 11:31 Grassroots movements and state decisions. 17:56 The case for removing urban highways. 19:41 Model highway removal projects in Rochester, New York. 27:09 More on Tucson urbanism. 29:55 The racial context of American highways. 35:49 A walkable collegiate commute in Tucson. 37:34 Where to find Megan’s new book. For context: Megan’s book — City Limits: infrastructure, inequality, and the future of American highways — out now. On Austin’s current I-35 challenge. Connect with Megan: On Twitter. On Instagram. Connecting with me, Brad: On Instagram. On TikTok. On LinkedIn.
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29 / A Texas-sized mistake: highway expansion in Austin (& other lone star cities) / with author Megan Kimble
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